Diacylglycerol acyltransferase nucleic acid sequences and associated products

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences related thereto, and methods to purify, obtain, and use such molecules in genetic engineering applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to polypeptides associated with the production of triacylglycerols in plants and fungi.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/399,427 filed Jul. 31, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention is directed to polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences related thereto, and methods to purify, obtain, and use such molecules in genetic engineering applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to polypeptides associated with the production of triacylglycerols in plants, fungi, and mammals.

[0003] Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (referred to hereinafter as DGAT) is an integral membrane protein that catalyzes the final enzymatic step in the production of triacylglycerols in plants, fungi, and mammals. DGAT has generally been described in Harwood, Biochem. Biophysics. Acta, 13017-13056 (1996); Daum et al., Yeast, 16:1471-1510 (1998); and Coleman et al., Annu. Rev. Nutr., 20:77-103 (2000). This enzyme is responsible for transferring an acyl group from acyl-coenzyme-A to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) to form triacylglycerol (TAG). In plants and fungi, DGAT is associated with the membrane and lipid body fractions, particularly in oilseeds, where it contributes to the storage of carbon used as energy reserves. TAG is believed to be an important chemical for storage of energy in cells. DGAT is known to regulate TAG structure and direct TAG synthesis. Furthermore, it is known that the DGAT reaction is specific for oil synthesis.

[0004] In plants, TAG is the primary component of vegetable oil that is used by the seed as a stored form of energy to be used during seed germination. Higher plants are believed to synthesize oils via a similar metabolic pathway commonly referred to as the Kennedy pathway (Kennedy et al., J. Biol. Chem., 222:193 (1956); Finnlayson et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 199:179-185 (1980)). Fatty acids are made in plastids from acetyl-CoA through a series of reactions catalyzed by enzymes known collectively as Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS). The fatty acids produced in plastids are exported to the cytosolic compartment of the cell, and are esterified to coenzyme A. These acyl-CoAs are the substrates for glycerolipid synthesis on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Glycerolipid synthesis itself is a series of reactions leading first to phosphatidic acid (PA) and DAG. Either of these metabolic intermediates may be directed to membrane phospholipids such as phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), or phosphatidylcholine (PC), or they may be directed on to form neutral triacylglycerol (TAG).

[0005] DAG is synthesized from glycerol-3-phosphate and fatty acyl-CoAs in two steps catalyzed sequentially by glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (G3PAT), and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) to make PA, and then an additional hydrolytic step catalyzed by phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) to make DAG. In most cells, DAG is used to make membrane phospholipids, the first step being the synthesis of PC catalyzed by CTP-phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase. In cells producing storage oils, DAG is acylated with a third fatty acid in a reaction catalyzed by DGAT.

[0006] Two different families of DGAT proteins have been identified. The first family of DGAT proteins (referred to hereinafter as DGAT1) is related to the acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and has been described in the literature (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,100,077 and 6,344,548). A second family of DGAT proteins (referred to hereinafter as DGAT2), unrelated to the previously identified family of DGAT1 proteins, is described in the present invention. This family of DGAT2 proteins is also described in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/121,857, filed Apr. 15, 2002.

[0007] Obtaining nucleic acid sequences capable of producing a phenotypic result in the incorporation of fatty acids into a glycerol backbone to produce an oil is subject to various obstacles including but not limited to the identification of metabolic factors of interest, choice and characterization of a protein source with useful kinetic properties, purification of the protein of interest to a level which will allow for its amino acid sequencing, utilizing amino acid sequence data to obtain a nucleic acid sequence capable of use as a probe to retrieve the desired DNA sequence, and the preparation of constructs, transformation and analysis of the resulting plants.

[0008] Thus, the identification of enzyme targets and useful tissue sources for nucleic acid sequences of such enzyme targets capable of modifying oil structure and quantity are needed. Ideally, an enzyme target will be amenable to one or more applications alone or in combination with other nucleic acid sequences relating to increased or decreased oil production, TAG structure, the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in the fatty acid pool, and/or to other novel oil compositions as a result of the modifications to the fatty acid pool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides genetic tools that answers the need of both altering the composition of oils produced in a plant as well as the percentage content thereof relative to other components of a seed, including, for example, the meal content thereof. The present invention includes diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides. The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention include those derived from plant and fungal sources, including, for example, Mortierella ramanniana, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Neurospora crassa.

[0010] The present invention further relates to polynucleotides that encode the DGAT proteins, and polynucleotides that include partial or complete DGAT encoding sequences. The present invention also provides polynucleotides that encode the DGAT2 proteins, and polynucleotides that include partial or complete DGAT2 encoding sequences.

[0011] The present invention also provides recombinant DNA constructs that can be used for transcription and expression of DGAT2, including constructs that are capable of expressing DGAT2 in plant, and insect host cells.

[0012] The present invention also includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide molecule comprising a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28. Preferred such isolated nucleic acid molecules include, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27.

[0013] The present invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide having homology to a diacylglycerol acyltransferase, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27.

[0014] The present invention also includes DNA constructs comprising an expression cassette comprising a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide molecule comprising a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24. In certain embodiments the DNA construct further comprises a second expression cassette, wherein said second expression cassette comprises a second heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide for a diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Preferably, the second heterologous promoter is different or the same from the heterologous promoter used initially; more preferably, the two heterologous promoters are different.

[0015] The present invention also includes a DNA construct comprising an expression cassette comprising a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide having homology to a diacylglycerol acyltransferase, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 23. In certain embodiments the DNA construct further comprises a second expression cassette wherein said second expression cassette comprises a second heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide for a diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Preferably, the second heterologous promoter is different or the same from the heterologous promoter used initially; more preferably, the two heterologous promoters are different.

[0016] The present invention also includes a plant or seed comprising the DNA construct comprised of expression cassette comprising a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide having homology to a diacylglycerol acyltransferase, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 23. Preferably, the plant or seed is one or more of maize, soybean, canola, oil seed rape, cotton, sesame, flax, peanut, sunflower, safflower, olive, and oil palm.

[0017] The present invention also includes a plant or seed comprising the DNA construct comprised of an expression cassette comprising a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide molecule comprising a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24. Preferably, the plant or seed is one or more of maize, soybean, canola, oil seed rape, cotton, sesame, flax, peanut, sunflower, safflower, olive, and oil palm.

[0018] Preferably, the plant or seed of the present invention is processed. More preferably, the plant or seed is used to produce a product, such as, for example, feed, meal, oil, or protein. The plant or seed used in this context is comprised of a DNA construct that includes a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell and a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 23.

[0019] In another embodiment, the plant or seed of the present invention is comprised of the DNA construct comprising an expression cassette comprising a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide molecule, which polypeptide molecule comprises a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24. Preferably, the plant or seed of the invention is processed into a product, which product may be feed, meal, oil, and protein.

[0020] The present invention further provides methods for the production of DGAT2 proteins in a host cell or progeny thereof. Recombinant cells containing DGAT2 are also provided.

[0021] The present invention provides a method of producing a plant having enhanced oil composition comprising the steps of transforming a plant cell with a DNA construct expressing diacylglycerol acyltransferase and regenerating said plant cell into a fertile plant relative to a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking the introduced nucleic acid molecule. The present invention also includes a fertile plant providing seeds having an increased oil yield relative to a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking the introduced nucleic acid molecule.

[0022] In another aspect, the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having at least one of the amino acid motifs: AYVFGYEPHSVXPI (SEQ ID NO: 33) and FXXPXYR (SEQ ID NO: 34), where X represents any amino acid. Such polypeptides include, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24.

[0023] In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a polypeptide, including fragments and proteins, having diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity and which polypeptide comprises at least one of the amino acid motifs: AYVFGYEPHSVXPI (SEQ ID NO: 33) and FXXPXYR (SEQ ID NO: 34), where X represents any amino acid. Such polypeptides include, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTING

[0024] SEQ ID NO: 1 DNA sequence of Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A

[0025] SEQ ID NO: 2 polypeptide sequence of Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A

[0026] SEQ ID NO: 3 DNA sequence of Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2B

[0027] SEQ ID NO: 4 polypeptide sequence of Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2B

[0028] SEQ ID NO: 5 DNA sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DGAT2B

[0029] SEQ ID NO: 6 polypeptide sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DGAT2B

[0030] SEQ ID NO: 7 DNA primer for NcDGAT2

[0031] SEQ ID NO: 8 DNA primer for NcDGAT2

[0032] SEQ ID NO: 9 DNA primer for NcDGAT2

[0033] SEQ ID NO: 10 DNA primer for NcDGAT2

[0034] SEQ ID NO: 11 DNA sequence for Mortierella ramaniana DAGT2B.nno

[0035] SEQ ID NO: 12 DNA sequence for Neurospora crassa DGAT.nno

[0036] SEQ ID NO: 13 DNA sequence for Neurospora crassa DGAT2

[0037] SEQ ID NO: 14 polypeptide sequence for Neurospora crassa DGAT2

[0038] SEQ ID NO: 15 DNA sequence of Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A.nno

[0039] SEQ ID NO: 16 DNA sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DGAT2.nno

[0040] SEQ ID NO: 17 DNA sequence of Hordeum vulgare DGAT2

[0041] SEQ ID NO: 18 polypeptide sequence of Hordeum vulgare DGAT2

[0042] SEQ ID NO: 19 DNA sequence of Zea mays DGAT2

[0043] SEQ ID NO: 20 polypeptide sequence of Zea mays DGAT2

[0044] SEQ ID NO: 21 DNA sequence of Glycine max DGAT2

[0045] SEQ ID NO: 22 polypeptide sequence of Glycine max DGAT2

[0046] SEQ ID NO: 23 DNA sequence of Triticum aestivum DGAT2

[0047] SEQ ID NO: 24 polypeptide sequence of Triticum aestivum DGAT2

[0048] SEQ ID NO: 25 DNA sequence of Drosophila melanogaster DGAT

[0049] SEQ ID NO: 26 polypeptide sequence of Drosophila melanogaster DGAT

[0050] SEQ ID NO: 27 DNA sequence of Homo sapiens DGAT

[0051] SEQ ID NO: 28 polypeptide sequence of Homo sapiens DGAT

[0052] SEQ ID NO: 29 polypeptide sequence of Schizosaccharomyces pombe1 DGAT2

[0053] SEQ ID NO: 30 polypeptide sequence of Schizosaccharomyces pombe2 DGAT2

[0054] SEQ ID NO: 31 polypeptide sequence of Candida albicans DGAT2

[0055] SEQ ID NO: 32 polypeptide sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana DGAT2

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056]FIGS. 1a, 1 b, and 1 c collectively show the sequence alignment of certain derived DGAT2 polypeptide sequences. Similar sequences between polypeptides can be used to identify like molecules with similar activities. Several computer programs can be used to identify conserved, sequence motifs between related molecules, including but not limited to MEME, or GENE SCAN. Once the sequence motifs are identified, their function can be assayed. For example, motif sequences in DGAT can be used to identify other DGAT polypeptides. Novel motifs can be derived from the polypeptide sequences disclosed in the present invention and used to screen sequence databases or in the design of degenerate nucleic acid probes to isolate novel DNA molecules that encode for DGAT. The amino acid sequences of the predicted DGAT2 polypeptides are aligned using the Clustal multiple sequence alignment program. Totally conserved residues are shaded black, grey shaded is the consensus of three or more sequences. All sequences are full-length. Residues shown above the alignment are highly conserved signature amino acids found in the motifs D and E of the acyltransferase (Neuwald, Curr. Biol., 7:465-466, (1997)). In this area, DGAT2 and the acyltransferase superfamily sequences co-align, only the shared conserved amino acid residues are shown. Key: MrDGAT2A (SEQ ID NO: 2), MrDGAT2B (SEQ ID NO: 4), ScDGAT2B (SEQ ID NO: 6); NcDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 14), ZmDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 20), GmDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 22), HvDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 18), TaDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 24), CaDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 31), and AtDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 32).

[0057]FIG. 2 shows the phylogenetic tree of DGAT2 family members of FIG. 1. The tree is constructed using the DNASTAR software.

[0058]FIG. 3 is a listing of DNA primer molecules used in the invention.

[0059]FIG. 4 is a schematic of vector pCGN8832.

[0060]FIG. 5 is a schematic of vector pMON68762.

[0061]FIG. 6 is a schematic of vector pMON68654.

[0062]FIG. 7 is a schematic of vector pMON70904.

[0063]FIG. 8 is a schematic of vector pMON70920.

[0064]FIG. 9 is a schematic of vector pMON70923.

[0065]FIG. 10 is a schematic of vector pMON70925.

[0066]FIG. 11 is a schematic of vector pMON70927. FIGS. 12a and 12 b show the sequence alignment of derived DGAT2 polypeptide sequences from certain fungal species, as identified therein. The information for how to read this figure, including the meaning of abbreviations and shadings used, is the same as stated above for FIGS. 1a, 1 b, and 1 c. The conserved regions indicated in shadings and black are usefully employed to identify other DGAT2 polypeptides derived from other species. In particular, analysis of these sequences reveals the following motif: FXXPXYR (SEQ ID NO: 34), where X represents any amino acid, which can be used to identify further DGAT2 sequences, preferably those of fungal origin.

[0067]FIG. 13 shows the sequence alignment of derived DGAT2 polypeptide sequences from certain plant species, as identified therein. The information for how to read this figure, including the meaning of abbreviations and shadings used, is the same as stated above for FIGS. 1a, 1 b, and 1 c. The conserved regions indicated in shadings and black are usefully employed to identify other DGAT2 polypeptides derived from other species. In particular, analysis of these sequences reveals the following motif: AYVFGYEPHSVXPI (SEQ ID NO: 33), which can be used to identify further DGAT2 sequences, preferably those of plant origin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] As used herein, the term triacylglycerol composition means a compound in an organism that includes the water-insoluble, fatty acid triesters of glycerol, i.e., having the chemical formula (CH₂—R)₃ where R is an ester.

[0069] As used herein, the term DGAT1 refers to a DGAT protein as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/326,203, filed on Jun. 4, 1999, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, which is related to the acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) gene family and responsible for transferring an acyl group from acyl-coenzyme-A to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) to form triacylglycerol (TAG).

[0070] As used herein, the term DGAT2 refers to a non-DGAT1 protein as defined above where the protein responsible for transferring an acyl group from acyl-coenzyme-A to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) to form triacylglycerol (TAG). DGAT2 proteins typically are generally less than 40 kD in weight, and typically in the 33-42 kD range.

[0071] As used herein, the term DGAT2A refers to a Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2 that has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. As used herein, the term DGAT2B refers to a Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2 that has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

[0072] As used herein, the phrase “oil composition” means the ratio of different fatty acid or oil components within a sample. Such a sample may be a plant or plant part, such as a seed. Such a sample may also be a collection of plant parts.

[0073] As used herein, the phrase “percentage content” in a preferred embodiment means the percent by total weight of a particular component, relative to other similar or related components.

[0074] As used herein, the phrase “enhanced oil” includes increased oil yield or altered oil composition.

[0075] As used herein, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) gene of the present invention includes any nucleic acid sequence encoding amino acids, such as protein, polypeptide, or peptide, obtainable from a cell source, which demonstrates the ability to catalyze the production of triacylglycerol from 1,2-diacylglycerol and fatty acyl substrates under enzyme reactive conditions. By “enzyme reactive conditions” it is meant that any necessary conditions are available in an environment (i.e., such factors as temperature, pH, lack of inhibiting substances) that will permit the enzyme to function.

[0076] The present invention relates to acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (referred to herein as DGAT) which catalyzes the final step in the production of triacylglycerol (TAG). More particularly, the present invention includes DGAT polypeptides and polynucleotides that encode the DGAT polypeptides. The DGAT polypeptide and polynucleotide molecules of the present invention are isolated from plant and fungal sources. Expression of the cDNAs in insect and plant cells conferred high levels of DGAT activity on the membranes isolated from these cells. The present invention provides a gene family, including members in fungi, plants, and animals, which encode enzymes with DGAT function.

[0077] DGAT proteins are isolated from cells of the oleaginous fungus Mortierella ramanniana. Following cell lysis, DGAT activity is associated with the lipid body fraction and detergent solubilization is required to release the membrane-bound proteins to permit their purification using traditional chromatographic techniques. A stimulation of DGAT activity in the homogenate is observed following the addition of the detergent Triton X-100. Using a 5-step protocol, two proteins, 36 kD and 36.5 kD by SDS-PAGE, are identified as being associated with DGAT activity. These proteins are named MrDGAT2A and MrDGAT2B, respectively. Final specific activity recoveries of 1.6% and 4.2%, respectively, are reported for the purest, most active fractions containing each protein. Expression of the cloned cDNAs in insect cells confirmed DGAT. Full-length clones are obtained for several plant and fungal DGAT homologs and the expressed proteins are evaluated in insect cells or plant cells. The homologs tested exhibited some level of DGAT activity demonstrating that the genes in this family are related by function.

[0078] The present invention provides a number of agents, for example, nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides associated with enzymes responsible for transferring an acyl group from acyl-coenzyme-A to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) to form triacylglycerol (TAG), and provides uses of such agents.

[0079] Nucleic Acid Molecules

[0080] Agents of the invention include nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect of the present invention the nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21,.23, 25, and 27.

[0081] In a further aspect of the present invention the nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and fragments thereof.

[0082] A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of motifs, i.e., conserved elements found in the sequences of identified DGAT molecules, for the purpose of identifying other DGAT genes and proteins. Accordingly, one skilled in the art can use a motif, such as, for example SEQ ID NO: 33 or 34, with or without reverse transcribing the motif sequence, and screen for other genes that encode a DGAT or other polypeptides that have DGAT activity.

[0083] A first nucleic acid sequence of the present invention displays “substantial identity” to a reference nucleic acid sequence if, when optimally aligned (with appropriate nucleotide insertions or deletions totaling less than 20% of the reference sequence over the window of comparison) with the other nucleic acid (or its complementary strand), there is at least about 75% nucleotide sequence identity, preferably at least about 80% identity, more preferably at least about 85% identity, yet more preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95% identity over a comparison window of at least 20 nucleotide positions, preferably at least 50 nucleotide positions, more preferably at least 100 nucleotide positions, and most preferably over the entire length of the first nucleic acid. Optimal alignment of sequences for aligning a comparison window may be conducted by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math., 2:482 (1981); by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol., 48:443 (1970); by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.), 85:2444 (1988); preferably by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA) in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package Release 7.0, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis. The reference nucleic acid may be a full-length molecule or a portion of a longer molecule. Alternatively, two nucleic acids have substantial identity if one hybridizes to the other under stringent conditions.

[0084] It is understood that in a further aspect of the present invention, the nucleic acid sequences can encode a protein that differs from any of the proteins in that one or more amino acids have been deleted, substituted, or added without altering the function. For example, it is understood that codons capable of coding for such conservative amino acid substitutions are known in the art.

[0085] One subset of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention is fragment nucleic acid molecules. Fragment nucleic acid molecules may consist of significant portion(s) of, or indeed most of, the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, such as those specifically disclosed. Alternatively, the fragments may comprise smaller oligonucleotides (having from about 15 to about 400 nucleotide residues and more preferably, about 15 to about 30 nucleotide residues, or about 50 to about 100 nucleotide residues, or about 100 to about 200 nucleotide residues, or about 200 to about 400 nucleotide residues, or about 275 to about 350 nucleotide residues).

[0086] A fragment of one or more of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be a probe and specifically a PCR probe. A PCR probe is a nucleic acid molecule capable of initiating a polymerase activity while in a double-stranded structure with another nucleic acid. Various methods for determining the structure of PCR probes and PCR techniques exist in the art. Computer generated searches using a program such as GeneUp (Pesole et al., BioTechniques, 25:112-123 (1998)), for example, can be used to identify potential PCR primers.

[0087] Nucleic acid molecules or fragments thereof of the present invention are capable of specifically hybridizing to other nucleic acid molecules under certain circumstances. Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention include those that specifically hybridize to nucleic acid molecules having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27, and complements thereof. Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention also include those that specifically hybridize to nucleic acid molecules encoding an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and fragments thereof.

[0088] A nucleic acid molecule is said to be the “complement” of another nucleic acid molecule if the molecules exhibit complete complementarity. As used herein, molecules are said to exhibit “complete complementarity” when every nucleotide of one of the molecules is complementary to a nucleotide of the other. Two molecules are said to be “minimally complementary” if they can hybridize to one another with sufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed to one another under at least conventional “low-stringency” conditions. Similarly, the molecules are said to be “complementary” if they can hybridize to one another with sufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed to one another under conventional “high-stringency” conditions. Conventional stringency conditions are described by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), and by Haymes et al., Nucleic Acid Hybridization, A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Washington, D.C. (1985). Departures from complete complementarity are therefore permissible, as long as such departures do not completely preclude the capacity of the molecules to form a double-stranded structure. Thus, in order for a nucleic acid molecule to serve as a primer or probe it need only be sufficiently complementary in sequence to be able to form a stable double-stranded structure under the particular solvent and salt concentrations employed.

[0089] Appropriate stringency conditions which promote DNA hybridization are, for example, 6.0× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C., followed by a wash of 2.0×SSC at 20-25° C., are known to those skilled in the art or can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. For example, the salt concentration in the wash step can be selected from a low stringency of about 2.0×SSC at 50° C. to a high stringency of about 0.2×SSC at 65° C. In addition, the temperature in the wash step can be increased from low stringency conditions at room temperature, about 22° C., to high stringency conditions at about 65° C. Both temperature and salt may be varied, or either the temperature or the salt concentration may be held constant while the other variable is changed.

[0090] In a preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid of the present invention will specifically hybridize to one or more of the nucleic acid molecules set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27, and complements thereof under moderately stringent conditions, for example at about 2.0×SSC and about 65° C.

[0091] A nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can also encode a homolog polypeptide. As used herein, a homolog polypeptide molecule or fragment thereof is a counterpart protein molecule or fragment thereof in a second species (e.g., corn rubisco small subunit is a homolog of Arabidopsis rubisco small subunit). A homolog can also be generated by molecular evolution or DNA shuffling techniques, so that the molecule retains at least one functional or structure characteristic of the original polypeptide (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,238).

[0092] In another embodiment, the homolog is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, Arabidopsis, barley, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, broccoli, cabbage, canola, citrus, cotton, garlic, oat, Allium, flax, an ornamental plant, peanut, pepper, potato, rapeseed, rice, rye, sorghum, strawberry, sugarcane, sugarbeet, tomato, wheat, poplar, pine, fir, eucalyptus, apple, lettuce, lentils, grape, banana, tea, turf grasses, sunflower, soybean, corn, Phaseolus, crambe, mustard, castor bean, sesame, cottonseed, linseed, safflower, and oil palm. More particularly, preferred homologs are selected from canola, corn, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, soybean, crambe, mustard, castor bean, peanut, sesame, cottonseed, linseed, rapeseed, safflower, oil palm, flax, and sunflower. In an even more preferred embodiment, the homolog is selected from the group consisting of canola, rapeseed, corn, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, soybean, sunflower, safflower, oil palms, and peanut. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the homolog is soybean. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the homolog is canola. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the homolog is oilseed rape.

[0093] Due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, different nucleotide codons may be used to code for a particular amino acid. A host cell often displays a preferred pattern of codon usage. Structural nucleic acid sequences are preferably constructed to utilize the codon usage pattern of the particular host cell. This generally enhances the expression of the structural nucleic acid sequence in a transformed host cell. Any disclosed nucleic acid or amino acid sequence may be modified to reflect the codon usage of a host cell or organism in which they are contained. Modification of a structural nucleic acid sequence for codon usage in plants is described, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,689,052 and 5,500,365.

[0094] In a preferred embodiment, any of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be operably linked to a promoter region that functions in a plant cell to cause the production of an mRNA molecule, where the nucleic acid molecule that is linked to the promoter is heterologous with respect to that promoter. As used herein, “heterologous” means not naturally occurring together.

[0095] Protein and Peptide Molecules

[0096] A class of agents includes one or more of the polypeptide molecules encoded by a nucleic acid agent of the present invention. Another class of agents includes one or more polypeptide molecules of the present invention. A particular preferred class of proteins is that having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28, and fragments thereof. Polypeptide agents may have C-terminal or N-terminal amino acid sequence extensions.

[0097] As used herein, the terms “protein,” “peptide molecule,” or “polypeptide” includes any molecule that comprises five or more amino acids. It is well known in the art that protein, peptide, or polypeptide molecules may undergo modification, including post-translational modifications, such as, but not limited to, disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, or oligomerization. Thus, as used herein, the terms “protein,” “peptide molecule,” or “polypeptide” includes any protein that is modified by any biological or non-biological process. The terms “amino acid” and “amino acids” refer to all naturally occurring L-amino acids. This definition is meant to include norleucine, norvaline, ornithine, homocysteine, and homoserine.

[0098] In a further aspect of the present invention, the DGAT2 proteins of the present invention have been solubilized. “Solubilization” refers to the extraction of the DGAT enzyme from the membranes in such a way that it then behaves in a manner typical of enzymes that are not membrane-associated.

[0099] It should also be noted that plant DGAT proteins from a variety of sources can be used to investigate TAG biosynthesis in a wide variety of in vivo applications. Because all plant seeds appear to synthesize lipids via a common metabolic pathway, the study and/or application of one plant DGAT protein to a heterologous plant host may be readily achieved in a variety of species. In other applications, a plant DGAT protein can be used outside the native plant source of the DGAT protein to enhance the production and/or modify the composition of the TAG produced or synthesized in vitro.

[0100] The percentage of sequence identity is determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window, wherein the portion of the polynucleotide or amino acid sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence (that does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base or amino acid residue occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison and multiplying the result by one hundred to yield the percentage of sequence identity.

[0101] A polypeptide or polynucleotide molecule can be substantially identical or substantially homologous to related molecules. These homologues with substantial identity to a related molecule generally comprise at least one polypeptide sequence or one polynucleotide sequence that has at least 70% sequence identity compared to other polypeptide sequences or polynucleotide sequences. The Gap program in the WISCONSIN PACKAGE version 10.0-UNIX from Genetics Computer Group, Inc. based on the method of Needleman and Wunsch (J. Mol. Biol., 48:443-453 (1970)) using the set of default parameters for pairwise comparison (for amino acid sequence comparison: Gap Creation Penalty=8, Gap Extension Penalty=2; for nucleotide sequence comparison: Gap Creation Penalty=50; Gap Extension Penalty=3); or using the TBLASTN program in the BLAST 2.2.1 software suite (Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-3402), using BLOSUM62 matrix (Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.), 89:10915-10919 (1992)) and the set of default parameters for pair-wise comparison (gap creation cost=11, gap extension cost=1). In BLAST, the E-value, or expectation value, represents the number of different alignments with scores equivalent to or better than the raw alignment score, S, that are expected to occur in a database search by chance. The lower the E value, the more significant the match. Because database size is an element in E-value calculations, E-values obtained by “BLASTing” against public databases, such as GenBank, have generally increased over time for any given query/entry match. Percent identity with respect to proteins refers to the percentage of identically matched amino acid residues that exist along the length of that portion of the sequences which is aligned by the BLAST algorithm.

[0102] One aspect of the present invention provides an isolated polynucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence or complement thereof, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide that is substantially homologous to a protein amino acid sequence of the present invention, wherein substantially homologous is defined as at least about 50%, or at least about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 75%, or at least about 80% sequence identity, or at least about 85% or at least about 90% sequence identity, or at least about 95% sequence identity, or at least about 98% sequence identity to a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24.

[0103] Agents of the invention include proteins and fragments thereof comprising at least about a contiguous 10 amino acid region preferably comprising at least about a contiguous 20 amino acid region, even more preferably comprising at least a contiguous 25, 35, 50, 75, or 100 amino acid region of a protein of the present invention. In another preferred embodiment, the proteins of the present invention include between about 10 and about 25 contiguous amino acid region, more preferably between about 20 and about 50 contiguous amino acid region, and even more preferably between about 40 and about 80 contiguous amino acid region.

[0104] In addition to isolation of other DGAT proteins or genes, genes for other related acyltransferase proteins can also be obtained using the sequence information from the DGAT sequences of the present invention and related nucleic acid or amino acid sequences. For example, Schizosaccharomyces pombe amino acid sequence homologs of DGAT2 proteins comprising the amino acids SEQ ID NOs: 29 and 30 are disclosed. In another example, other acyltransferase enzymes are involved in plant lipid biosynthesis, including lysophosphosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT), lysophosphosphatidylserine acyltransferase (LPSAT), lysophosphosphatidylethanolamine acyltransferase (LPEAT), phosphatidylcholine diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT), and lysophosphosphatidylinositol acyltransferase (LPIAT).

[0105] DNA Constructs and Plant Transformants

[0106] One or more of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be used in plant transformation or transfection. Exogenous genetic material may be transferred into a plant cell and the plant cell regenerated into a whole, fertile, or sterile plant. Exogenous genetic material is any genetic material, whether naturally occurring or otherwise, from any source that is capable of being inserted into any organism. Bacterial plasmid maintainance elements are components of DNA constructs. These elements comprise antibiotic markers, i.e., the aadA gene (SPC/STR, spectomycin, and streptomycin resistance), Ec.nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase, kanamycin resistance); origins of replication or elements that control plasmid copy number, i.e., Ec.oriV, Ec.ori322, ORI-PUC, and Ec.ROP. Additional information on these elements can be obtained from Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), among others.

[0107] In a preferred aspect of the present invention the exogenous genetic material comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, and complements thereof, and fragments of either. In a further aspect of the present invention the exogenous genetic material comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, and fragments thereof.

[0108] In an embodiment of the present invention, exogenous genetic material comprised of one or more genes is introduced into a plant. In one embodiment, preferred combinations of genes include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following genes: MrDGAT2A (SEQ ID NO: 1), MrDAGAT2A.nno (SEQ ID NO: 15), MrDGAT2B (SEQ ID NO: 3), MrDGAT2B.nno (SEQ ID NO: 11), ScDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), ScDGAT2.nno (SEQ ID NO: 16), NcDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 13), and NcDGAT.nno (SEQ ID NO: 12). In another embodiment, preferred combinations of genes include, but are not limited to, one of the following genes expressed under the control of two separate promoters: MrDGAT2A (SEQ ID NO: 1), MrDAGAT2A.nno (SEQ ID NO: 15), MrDGAT2B (SEQ ID NO: 3), MrDGAT2B.nno (SEQ ID NO: 11), ScDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), ScDGAT2.nno (SEQ ID NO: 16), NcDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 13), and NcDGAT.nno (SEQ ID NO: 12).

[0109] In such combinations, one or more of the gene products can be localized in the cytoplasm. Such genes can be introduced, for example, on a single construct in either a monocistronic or polycistronic arrangement, introduced on different constructs but in the same transformation event, or introduced into separate plants followed by one or more crosses to generate the desired combination of genes.

[0110] Such genetic material may be transferred into either monocotyledons or dicotyledons including, but not limited to canola, corn, soybean, Arabidopsis, Phaseolus, peanut, alfalfa, wheat, rice, oat, sorghum, rapeseed, rye, tritordeum, millet, fescue, perennial ryegrass, sugarcane, cranberry, papaya, banana, safflower, oil palms, flax, muskmelon, apple, cucumber, dendrobium, gladiolus, chrysanthemum, liliacea, cotton, eucalyptus, sunflower, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, turfgrass, sugarbeet, coffee, and dioscorea (Christou, In: Particle Bombardment for Genetic Engineering of Plants, Biotechnology Intelligence Unit, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1996), with canola, corn, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, rapeseed, soybean, crambe, mustard, castor bean, peanut, sesame, cottonseed, linseed, safflower, oil palm, flax, and sunflower preferred, and canola, rapeseed, corn, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, soybean, sunflower, safflower, oil palms, and peanut preferred. In a preferred embodiment, the homolog is selected from the group consisting of maize, soybean, canola, cottonseed, sesame, flax, peanut, sunflower, safflower, and oil palm. In a more preferred embodiment, the genetic material is transferred into canola. In another more preferred embodiment, the genetic material is transferred into oilseed rape. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the genetic material is transferred into soybean.

[0111] Transfer of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein can result in expression or overexpression of that polypeptide in a transformed cell or transgenic plant. One or more of the proteins or fragments thereof encoded by nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be overexpressed in a transformed cell or transformed plant. Such expression or overexpression may be the result of transient or stable transfer of the exogenous genetic material.

[0112] In a preferred embodiment, expression or overexpression of a polypeptide of the present invention in a plant provides in that plant, relative to an untransformed plant with a similar genetic background, an association with an increase in DGAT activity.

[0113] The levels of products may be increased throughout an organism such as a plant or localized in one or more specific organs or tissues of the organism. For example the levels of products may be increased in one or more of the tissues and organs of a plant including without limitation: roots, tubers, stems, leaves, stalks, fruit, berries, nuts, bark, pods, seeds, and flowers. A preferred organ is a seed.

[0114] In a preferred aspect, a similar genetic background is a background where the organisms being compared share about 50% or greater of their nuclear genetic material. In a more preferred aspect a similar genetic background is a background where the organisms being compared share about 75% or greater, even more preferably about 90% or greater of their nuclear genetic material. In another even more preferable aspect, a similar genetic background is a background where the organisms being compared are plants, and the plants are isogenic except for any genetic material originally introduced using plant transformation techniques.

[0115] A construct or vector may include a plant promoter to express the polypeptide of choice. In a preferred embodiment, any nucleic acid molecules described herein can be operably linked to a promoter region which functions in a plant cell to cause the production of an mRNA molecule. For example, any promoter that functions in a plant cell to cause the production of an mRNA molecule, such as those promoters described herein, without limitation, can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the promoter is a plant promoter.

[0116] Other promoters can also be used to express a polypeptide in specific tissues, such as seeds or fruits. Indeed, in a preferred embodiment, the promoter used is a seed specific promoter. Examples of such promoters include the 5′ regulatory regions from such genes as napin (Kridl et al., Seed Sci. Res., 1:209:219 (1991)), phaseolin (Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1(9):839-853 (1989)), soybean trypsin inhibitor (Riggs et al., Plant Cell, 1(6):609-621 (1989)), ACP (Baerson et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 22(2):255-267 (1993)), stearoyl-ACP desaturase (Slocombe et al., Plant Physiol., 104(4): 167-176 (1994)), soybean a′ subunit of β-conglycinin (P-Gm7S, see, for example, Chen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 83:8560-8564 (1986)), Vicia faba USP (P-Vf.Usp, see, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, and 3, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/429,516), and Zea mays L3 oleosin promoter (P-Zm.L3, see, for example, Hong et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 34(3):549-555 (1997)). Also included are the zeins, which are a group of storage proteins found in corn endosperm. Genomic clones for zein genes have been isolated (Pedersen et al., Cell, 29:1015-1026 (1982), and Russell et al., Transgenic Res., 6(2):157-168) and the promoters from these clones, including the 15 kD, 16 kD, 19 kD, 22 kD, 27 kD, and genes, could also be used. Other promoters known to function, for example, in corn include the promoters for the following genes: waxy, Brittle, Shrunken 2, Branching enzymes I and II, starch synthases, debranching enzymes, oleosins, glutelins, and sucrose synthases. A particularly preferred promoter for corn endosperm expression is the promoter for the glutelin gene from rice, more particularly the Osgt-1 promoter (Zheng et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 13:5829-5842 (1993)). Examples of promoters suitable for expression in wheat include those promoters for the ADPglucose pyrosynthase (ADPGPP) subunits, the granule bound and other starch synthase, the branching and debranching enzymes, the embryogenesis-abundant proteins, the gliadins, and the glutenins. Examples of such promoters in rice include those promoters for the ADPGPP subunits, the granule bound and other starch synthase, the branching enzymes, the debranching enzymes, sucrose synthases, and the glutelins. A particularly preferred promoter is the promoter for rice glutelin, Osgt-1. Examples of such promoters for barley include those for the ADPGPP subunits, the granule bound and other starch synthase, the branching enzymes, the debranching enzymes, sucrose synthases, the hordeins, the embryo globulins, and the aleurone specific proteins. A preferred promoter for expression in the seed is a napin promoter, referred to herein as P-Br.Snap2. Another preferred promoter for expression is an Arcelin5 promoter (U.S. patent Publication Ser. No. 2003/0,046,727). Yet another preferred promoter is a soybean 7S promoter (P-Gm.7S) and the soybean 7Sα′ beta conglycinin promoter (P-Gm.Sphas1).

[0117] Promoters, which can cause the overexpression of the polypeptide of the present invention, are generally known in the art, e.g., viral promoters (P-CaMV35S, U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,605; P-FMV35S, and its enhancer element E-FMV35S identified as the 5′ portion of the P-FMV35S without the native start of transcription, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,619 and 5,018,100, and chimeric promoter molecules described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,258 as SEQ ID NO: 28 referrerd to in the present invention as E-FMV35S/P-At.Tsf1), and various plant derived promoters, e.g., plant actin promoters (P-Os.Act1, and genetic elements derived therefrom, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,641,876 and 6,429,357).

[0118] Additional promoters that may be utilized are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,619; 5,391,725; 5,428,147; 5,447,858; 5,608,144; 5,608,144; 5,614,399; 5,633,441; 5,633,435; and 4,633,436. In addition, a tissue specific enhancer may be used (Fromm et al., The Plant Cell, 1:977-984 (1989)).

[0119] Constructs or vectors may also include, with the coding region of interest, a nucleic acid sequence that acts, in whole or in part, to terminate transcription of that region. A number of such sequences have been isolated, including the Tr7 3′ sequence and the NOS 3′ sequence (Ingelbrecht et al., The Plant Cell, 1:671-680 (1989); Bevan et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 11:369-385 (1983)). Regulatory transcript termination regions can be provided in plant expression constructs of this present invention as well. Transcript termination regions can be provided by the DNA sequence encoding the gene of interest or a convenient transcription termination region derived from a different gene source, for example, the transcript termination region that is naturally associated with the transcript initiation region. The skilled artisan will recognize that any convenient transcript termination region that is capable of terminating transcription in a plant cell can be employed in the constructs of the present invention.

[0120] A vector or construct may also include additional regulatory elements. Examples of such include the translation leader isolated from Petunia hybrida Hsp70 gene (L-Ph.DnaK, U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,865), the Adh intron 1 (Callis et al., Genes and Develop., 1: 1183-1200 (1987)), the sucrose synthase intron (Vasil et al., Plant Physiol., 91:1575-1579 (1989)), the rice actin intron (I-Os.Act1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,876), and the TMV omega element (Gallie et al., The Plant Cell, 1:301-311 (1989)). Transcriptional termination regions, e.g., the 3′ untranslated region from the Brassica rapa, T-Br.Snap2. These and other regulatory elements may be included when appropriate.

[0121] A vector or construct may also include a selectable marker. Selectable markers may also be used to select for plants or plant cells that contain the exogenous genetic material. Examples of such include, but are not limited to: a nptII gene (Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188 (1985)), which codes for kanamycin resistance and can be selected for using kanamycin, RptII, G418, hpt etc.; a bar gene which codes for bialaphos resistance; a mutant EPSP synthase gene (Hinchee et al., Bio/Technology, 6:915-922 (1988); Reynaerts et al., Selectable and Screenable Markers. In Gelvin and Schilperoort; Plant Molecular Biology Manual, Kluwer, Dordrecht (1988); Reynaerts et al., Selectable and Screenable Markers. In Gelvin and Schilperoort; Plant Molecular Biology Manual, Kluwer, Dordrecht (1988); a nitrilase gene which confers resistance to bromoxynil (Stalker et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263:6310-6314 (1988)); a mutant acetolactate synthase gene (ALS) which confers imidazolinone or sulphonylurea resistance (European Patent Application 154,204 (Sep. 11, 1985)), ALS (D'Halluin et al., Bio/Technology, 10:309-314 (1992)), and a methotrexate resistant DHFR gene (Thillet et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263:12500-12508 (1988)). A particularly preferred marker is glyphosate tolerance, this can be achieved in plants by expressing a glyphosate resistant EPSPS, for example, the aroA-CP4 coding sequence from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435), herein referred to as AGRtu.aroA. The AGRtu.aroA coding sequence is linked to a chloroplast transit peptide (CTP), for example the CTP2 coding sequence isolated from the Arabidopsis ShkF gene, herein referred to as TS-At.ShkF-CTP2.

[0122] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a transgenic plant expressing the desired protein is to be produced. Various methods for the introduction of a desired polynucleotide sequence encoding the desired protein into plant cells are available and known to those of skill in the art and include, but are not limited to: (1) physical methods such as microinjection, electroporation, and microprojectile mediated delivery (biolistics or gene gun technology); (2) virus mediated delivery methods; and (3) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods.

[0123] The most commonly used methods for transformation of plant cells are the Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer process and the biolistics or microprojectile bombardment mediated process (i.e., the gene gun). Typically, nuclear transformation is desired but where it is desirable to specifically transform plastids, such as chloroplasts or amyloplasts, plant plastids may be transformed utilizing a microprojectile mediated delivery of the desired polynucleotide.

[0124] Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is achieved through the use of a genetically engineered soil bacterium belonging to the genus Agrobacterium. A number of wild-type and disarmed strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes harboring Ti or Ri plasmids can be used for gene transfer into plants. Gene transfer is done via the transfer of a specific DNA known as “T-DNA” that can be genetically engineered to carry any desired piece of DNA into many plant species. The transgene(s) are constructed in a DNA plasmid vector and are usually bordered by an Agrobacterium Ti plasmid right border DNA region (RB) and a left border DNA region (LB). During the process of Agrobacterium mediated transformation the DNA plasmid is nicked by VirD1 and VirD2 endonucleases at the right and left border regions and the T-DNA region is inserted into the plant genome.

[0125] Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of plants involves several steps. The first step, in which the virulent Agrobacterium and plant cells are first brought into contact with each other, is generally called “inoculation.” Following the inoculation, the Agrobacterium and plant cells/tissues are permitted to be grown together for a period of several hours to several days or more under conditions suitable for growth and T-DNA transfer. This step is termed “co-culture.” Following co-culture and T-DNA delivery, the plant cells are treated with bactericidal or bacteriostatic agents to kill the Agrobacterium remaining in contact with the explant and/or in the vessel containing the explant. If this is done in the absence of any selective agents to promote preferential growth of transgenic versus non-transgenic plant cells, then this is typically referred to as the “delay” step. If done in the presence of selective pressure favoring transgenic plant cells, then it is referred to as a “selection” step. When a “delay” is used, it is typically followed by one or more “selection” steps.

[0126] With respect to microprojectile bombardment (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,318; 5,538,880; and 5,610,042; each of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), particles are coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propelling force. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten, platinum, and preferably, gold.

[0127] Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may be used to transform virtually any plant species. Examples of species that have been transformed by microprojectile bombardment include monocot species such as maize, barley, wheat (U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), rice, oat, rye, sugarcane, and sorghum; as well as a number of dicots including tobacco, soybean (U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,783, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), sunflower, peanut, cotton, tomato, and legumes in general (U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

[0128] To select or score for transformed plant cells regardless of transformation methodology, the DNA introduced into the cell contains a gene that functions in a regenerable plant tissue to produce a compound that confers upon the plant tissue resistance to an otherwise toxic compound. Genes of interest for use as a selectable, screenable, or scorable marker would include but are not limited to GUS, green fluorescent protein (GFP), luciferase (LUX), antibiotic or herbicide tolerance genes. Examples of antibiotic resistance genes include the penicillins, kanamycin (and neomycin, G418, bleomycin); methotrexate (and trimethoprim); chloramphenicol; kanamycin; and tetracycline.

[0129] The regeneration, development, and cultivation of plants from various transformed explants is well documented in the art. This regeneration and growth process typically includes the steps of selecting transformed cells and culturing those individualized cells through the usual stages of embryonic development through the rooted plantlet stage. Transgenic embryos and seeds are similarly regenerated. The resulting transgenic rooted shoots are thereafter planted in an appropriate plant growth medium such as soil. Cells that survive the exposure to the selective agent, or cells that have been scored positive in a screening assay, may be cultured in media that supports regeneration of plants. Developing plantlets are transferred to soil less plant growth mix, and hardened off, prior to transfer to a greenhouse or growth chamber for maturation.

[0130] The present invention can be used with any transformable cell or tissue. By transformable as used herein is meant a cell or tissue that is capable of further propagation to give rise to a plant. Those of skill in the art recognize that a number of plant cells or tissues are transformable in which after insertion of exogenous DNA and appropriate culture conditions the plant cells or tissues can form into a differentiated plant. Tissue suitable for these purposes can include but is not limited to immature embryos, scutellar tissue, suspension cell cultures, immature inflorescence, shoot meristem, nodal explants, callus tissue, hypocotyl tissue, cotyledons, roots, and leaves.

[0131] Any suitable plant culture medium can be used. Examples of suitable media would include but are not limited to MS-based media (Murashige and Skoog, Physiol. Plant, 15:473-497 (1962)) or N6-based media (Chu et al., Scientia Sinica, 18:659 (1975)) supplemented with additional plant growth regulators including but not limited to auxins, cytokinins, ABA, and gibberellins. Those of skill in the art are familiar with the variety of tissue culture media, which when supplemented appropriately, support plant tissue growth and development and are suitable for plant transformation and regeneration. These tissue culture media can either be purchased as a commercial preparation, or custom prepared, and modified. Those of skill in the art are aware that media and media supplements such as nutrients and growth regulators for use in transformation and regeneration and other culture conditions such as light intensity during incubation, pH, and incubation temperatures that can be optimized for the particular variety of interest.

[0132] A transgenic plant formed using Agrobacterium transformation methods typically contains a single gene on one chromosome. Such transgenic plants can be referred to as being heterozygous for the added gene. More preferred is a transgenic plant that is homozygous for the added structural gene; i.e., a transgenic plant that contains two added genes, one gene at the same locus on each chromosome of a chromosome pair. A homozygous transgenic plant can be obtained by sexually mating (selfing) an independent segregant, transgenic plant that contains a single added gene, germinating some of the seed produced and analyzing the resulting plants produced for the gene of interest.

[0133] It is also to be understood that two different transgenic plants can also be mated to produce offspring that contain two independently segregating, exogenous genes. Selfing of appropriate progeny can produce plants that are homozygous for both added, exogenous genes that encode a polypeptide of interest. Back-crossing to a parental plant and out-crossing with a non-transgenic plant are also contemplated, as is vegetative propagation.

[0134] Anti-sense suppression of genes in plants by introducing by transformation of a construct comprising DNA of the gene of interest in an anti-sense orientation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,107,065; 5,453,566; 5,759,829; 5,874,269; 5,922,602; 5,973,226; and 6,005,167; all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0135] Co-suppression of genes in a plant by introducing by transformation of a construct for cytoplasmic expression comprising DNA of the gene of interest in a sense orientation is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,034,323; 5,231,020; 5,283,184; and 6,271,033, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0136] Antisense approaches are a way of preventing or reducing gene function by targeting the genetic material (Mol et al., FEBS Lett., 268:427-430 (1990)). The objective of the antisense approach is to use a sequence complementary to the target gene to block its expression and create a mutant cell line or organism in which the level of a single chosen protein is selectively reduced or abolished. Antisense techniques have several advantages over other ‘reverse genetic’ approaches. The site of inactivation and its developmental effect can be manipulated by the choice of promoter for antisense genes or by the timing of external application or microinjection. Antisense can manipulate its specificity by selecting either unique regions of the target gene or regions where it shares homology to other related genes (Hiatt et al., In: Genetic Engineering, Setlow (ed.), New York: Plenum 11:49-63 (1989)).

[0137] The present invention also provides for parts of the plants, particularly reproductive or storage parts, of the present invention. Plant parts, without limitation, include seed, endosperm, ovule, and pollen. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant part is a seed. In one embodiment the seed is a constituent of animal feed.

[0138] Any of the plants or parts thereof of the present invention that can provide a processed product comprising feed, meal, protein, flour, fiber, extactable nutrients, or oil preparation. A particularly preferred plant part for this purpose is a seed. In a preferred embodiment the processed product is designed for livestock animals or humans, or both. Methods to produce feed, meal, protein, and oil preparations are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,748; 5,100,679; 5,219,596; 5,936,069; 6,005,076; 6,146,669; and 6,156,227, herein incorporated by reference. In a preferred embodiment, the protein preparation is a high protein preparation. Such a high protein preparation preferably has a protein content of greater than 5% w/v, more preferably 10% w/v, and even more preferably 15% w/v. In a preferred oil preparation, the oil preparation is a high oil preparation with an oil content derived from a plant or part thereof of the present invention of greater than 5% w/v, more preferably 10% w/v, and even more preferably 15% w/v. In a preferred embodiment the oil preparation is a liquid and of a volume greater than 1, 5, 10, or 50 liters. The present invention provides for oil produced from plants of the present invention or generated by a method of the present invention. Such an oil may exhibit enhanced oxidative stability. Also, such oil may be a minor or major component of any resultant product. Moreover, such oil may be blended with other oils. In a preferred embodiment, the oil produced from plants of the present invention or generated by a method of the present invention constitutes greater than 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 90% by volume or weight of the oil component of any product. In another embodiment, the oil preparation may be blended and can constitute greater than 10%, 25%, 35%, 50%, or 75% of the blend by volume. Oil produced from a plant of the present invention can be admixed with one or more organic solvents or petroleum distillates.

[0139] Plants of the present invention can be part of or generated from a breeding program. The choice of breeding method depends on the mode of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and the type of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, pureline cultivar, etc). A breeding program can be enhanced using marker-assisted selection of the progeny of any cross. It is further understood that any commercial and non-commercial cultivars can be utilized in a breeding program. Factors such as, for example, emergence vigor, vegetative vigor, stress tolerance, disease resistance, branching, flowering, seed set, seed size, seed density, standability, and threshability etc. will generally dictate the choice.

[0140] Exemplary Uses

[0141] Nucleic acid molecules and fragments thereof of the present invention may be employed to obtain other nucleic acid molecules from the same species (nucleic acid molecules from corn may be utilized to obtain other nucleic acid molecules from corn). Such nucleic acid molecules include the nucleic acid molecules that encode the complete coding sequence of a protein and promoters and flanking sequences of such molecules. In addition, such nucleic acid molecules include nucleic acid molecules that encode for other isozymes or gene family members. Such molecules can be readily obtained by using the above-described nucleic acid molecules or fragments thereof to screen cDNA or genomic libraries. Methods for forming such libraries are well known in the art.

[0142] Nucleic acid molecules and fragments thereof of the present invention may also be employed to obtain nucleic acid homologs. Such homologs include the nucleic acid molecules of plants and other organisms, including bacteria and fungi, including the nucleic acid molecules that encode, in whole or in part, protein homologs of other plant species or other organisms, sequences of genetic elements, such as promoters and transcriptional regulatory elements. Such molecules can be readily obtained by using the above-described nucleic acid molecules or fragments thereof to screen cDNA or genomic libraries obtained from such plant species. Methods for forming such libraries are well known in the art. Such homolog molecules may differ in their nucleotide sequences from those found in one or more of the sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27, and complements thereof, because complete complementarity is not needed for stable hybridization. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention therefore also include molecules that, although capable of specifically hybridizing with the nucleic acid molecules, may lack “complete complementarity.”

[0143] Promoter sequences and other genetic elements, including but not limited to transcriptional regulatory flanking sequences, associated with one or more of the disclosed nucleic acid sequences can also be obtained using the disclosed nucleic acid sequence provided herein. In one embodiment, such sequences are obtained by incubating nucleic acid molecules of the present invention with members of genomic libraries and recovering clones that hybridize to such nucleic acid molecules thereof. In a second embodiment, methods of “chromosome walking,” or inverse PCR may be used to obtain such sequences (Frohman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.), 85:8998-9002 (1988); Ohara et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.), 86:5673-5677 (1989); Pang et al., Biotechniques, 22:1046-1048 (1977); Huang et al., Methods Mol. Biol., 69:89-96 (1997); Huang et al., Method Mol. Biol., 67:287-294 (1997); Benkel et al., Genet. Anal., 13:123-127 (1996); Hartl et al., Methods Mol. Biol., 58:293-301 (1996)). The term “chromosome walking” means a process of extending a genetic map by successive hybridization steps.

[0144] The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be used to isolate promoters of cell-enhanced, cell-specific, tissue-enhanced, tissue-specific, developmentally- or environmentally-regulated expression profiles. Isolation and functional analysis of the 5′ flanking promoter sequences of these genes from genomic libraries, for example, using genomic screening methods and PCR techniques would result in the isolation of useful promoters and transcriptional regulatory elements. These methods are known to those of skill in the art and have been described (see, for example, Birren et al., Genome Analysis: Analyzing DNA, 1 (1997), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). Promoters obtained utilizing the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention could also be modified to affect their control characteristics. Examples of such modifications would include but are not limited to enhancer sequences. Such genetic elements could be used to enhance gene expression of new and existing traits for crop improvement.

[0145] Another subset of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention includes nucleic acid molecules that are markers. The markers can be used in a number of conventional ways in the field of molecular genetics. Such markers include nucleic acid molecules SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27, and complements thereof, and fragments of either that can act as markers and other nucleic acid molecules of the present invention that can act as markers.

[0146] In an aspect of the present invention, one or more of the nucleic molecules of the present invention are used to determine the level (i.e., the concentration of mRNA in a sample, etc.) in a plant (preferably canola, corn, Brassica campestris, oilseed rape, rapeseed, soybean, crambe, mustard, castor bean, peanut, sesame, cottonseed, linseed, safflower, oil palm, flax, or sunflower) or pattern (i.e., the kinetics of expression, rate of decomposition, stability profile, etc.) of the expression of a protein encoded in part or whole by one or more of the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention.

[0147] A number of methods can be used to compare the expression between two or more samples of cells or tissue. These methods include hybridization assays, such as Northerns, RNAse protection assays, and in situ hybridization. Alternatively, the methods include PCR-type assays. In a preferred method, the expression is compared by hybridizing nucleic acids from the two or more samples to an array of nucleic acids. The array contains a plurality of suspected sequences known or suspected of being present in the cells or tissue of the samples.

[0148] The present invention now being generally described, it will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are included for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0149] Isolation of DGAT2 Nucleic Acid Sequences and Confirmation of DGAT Activity

[0150]Mortierella ramanniana was cultured as described by Kamisaka, Y. et al., Lipids, 28:583-587 (1993). Cells were harvested by passing 10-13 day old cultures through Miracloth and removing excess liquid by hand-wringing. Wet packed cells were stored at −70° C. Purification of DGAT2 proteins from Mortierella ramanniana was performed as follows. Lipid bodies were isolated from 70-75 g of wet packed cells. Immediately prior to use, cells were thawed on ice and resuspended in 200 mL of Buffer D (10 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0), 1 M KCl, 0.5 M sucrose, 1 mM EDTA). Samples were lysed with an equal volume of 0.5 mm glass beads in a cell disrupter (Bead-Beater, Biospec Products, Bartlesville, Okla.) set on ‘Homogenize’ for 45-90 seconds. The cell slurry containing glass beads was centrifuged at 500×g, the supernatant was removed, and the pellets were washed with another 5 mL of Buffer D. Following centrifugation, the supernatants from both centrifugations were combined. It was divided into six ultracentrifuge tubes (25×89 mm) and each was overlaid with 5 mL of Buffer E (10 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.0, 1 M KCl, and 0.3 M sucrose). Samples were centrifuged at 100,000×g at 4° C. for 3 hours. The lipid body fractions, floating on top of the overlays, were combined and solubilized in 50 mL of Buffer F (10 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0), 75 mM KCl, 0.5 M Sucrose and 1.5% Triton X-100). Non-solubilized material was removed by ultracentrifugation (90,000×g for 1.8 hours). The floating lipid layer was discarded and the supernatant containing the solubilized fraction (Triton X-100 extract) was retained for column purification. DGAT activity was measured as the production of ¹⁴C triacylglycerol from [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA and unlabeled dioleoyl-DAG. For non-solubilized samples the reaction mixture (0.1 mL) consisted of enzyme extract, 3.67 μM [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA, and 1.5 mM 1,2-18:1 diacylglycerol in a buffer containing 10 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0), 100-150 mM KCl, and 0.1% Triton x-100 (w/v). Assay mixtures were incubated at 25° C. for 5 minutes and reactions were terminated by adding 1.5 mL of heptane:isopropanol:0.5 M H₂SO₄ (10:40:1, v/v/v). For solubilized samples 1,2-18:1 DAG was reduced to 0.5 mM, Triton X-100 was increased to 0.2%, and 300 μM L-α-phosphatidic acid was included. The L-α-phosphatidic acid was required to recover activity following solubilization with detergent as described by Kamiska et al., J. Biochem., 119:520-523 (1996) except, 300 μM phosphatidic acid was used rather than 500 μM. This resulted in a greater stimulation of activity.

[0151] Following solubilization, product formation was dependent on the addition of exogenous DAG. Under these conditions the reaction rate was linear with respect to time for up to 10 minutes. After the assay was stopped, radiolabeled glycerolipids were isolated by adding 0.1 mL of 1 M NaHCO₃ and 1 mL of heptane containing 15 nmoles/mL triolein as a carrier. The mixture was vortexed and the upper organic phase was removed to a new glass vial. The organic extract was back-extracted with 1 mL of 1 M NaCl. Forty percent of the final organic phase was removed for liquid scintillation counting and the remaining organic phase evaporated to dryness under nitrogen gas. The residue was resuspended in hexane and subjected to TLC on silica gel-G with a preadsorbent loading zone (Analtech #31011, Newark, Del.). The TLC plate was developed in hexane:diethyl ether:acetic acid (50:50:1, v/v/v), before drying and scanning by a radio-image analyzer (AMBIS 3000, AMBIS, Inc., San Diego, Calif.) to determine the portion of radioactivity incorporated into TAG. Confirmation of TAG activity on the TLC plate was determined by co-migration of the unlabeled triolein carrier and the [¹⁴C]TAG following exposure to iodine vapor.

[0152] DGAT activity in the Triton X-100 extract was further purified by dye-binding chromatography on a Yellow 86-Agarose column (2.5 cm×6.4 cm) equilibrated with 75 mM KCl in Buffer G (10 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0), 0.1% (w/v) Triton X-100, 10% (w/v) glycerol). The column was washed with 5 volumes of equilibration buffer at 2 mL per minute, then the activity was eluted with 500 mM KCl in Buffer G. DGAT activity is stable to freeze/thaw at this stage of purification, so eluted fractions were assayed immediately and active fractions were stored at −70° C. In order to maintain maximal activity, subsequent chromatography was performed and fractions were assayed on the same day. Four preparations of Yellow 86-Agarose-purified activity were combined and concentrated 12-fold by ultrafiltration (YM-30 membrane, Amicon, Beverly, Mass.). The activity was further purified by hydroxyapatite chromatography on a 1.0 cm×25.5 cm column equilibrated with 500 mM KCl in Buffer G. The column was washed with 40 mL of equilibration buffer before bound proteins were eluted with a step gradient to 100 mM di-potassium phosphate in the equilibration buffer. Fractions from the flow-through containing DGAT activity were pooled and diluted 1:3.3 in Buffer G to reduce the KCl concentration from 500 to 150 mM. The diluted sample was applied to a heparin column CL-6B (0.55×4.7 cm) equilibrated with 150 mM KCl in Buffer G. The column was washed with 5 volumes of equilibration buffer at 0.5 mL/minute and bound proteins were eluted in a 10 mL linear gradient of 150-500 mM KCl followed by 10 mL of 500 mM KCl in Buffer G at 0.25 mL/minute. Fractions of 1.1 mL were collected. Two activity peaks were eluted from the heparin column (fnx 22 and fxn 28).

[0153] A summary of the protein purification scheme is shown in Table 1. A lipid body fraction isolated from 300 g of M. ramanniana cell paste was used for the preparation. Recovery values for Mr-DGAT2A (Heparin fxn 28) and Mr-DGAT2B (Heparin fxn 22) are reported separately in the last chromatographic step. TABLE 1 Purification scheme for DGAT2 Protein Activity Specific Act. Fold Fraction (mg) (nmol/min) (nmol/min/mg) Purification Recovery (%) 500 g 2341.2 1218.0 0.5 1.0 100 Tx-100 extract 117.6 2069.2 17.6 33.8 169.8 Yellow load 63.6 1458.8 22.9 44.1 119.7 Yellow Ft/wash nd 719.2 nd nd 59.0 Yellow eluted 1.6 678.0 440.3 846.2 55.7 HA pool 0.56 340.2 607.6 1167.6 27.9 Heparin eluted 0.20 264.6 1323.0 2646.0 21.7 Heparin fxn 22 0.0026 51.0 1961.5 3769.5 4.2 Heparin fxn 28 0.0076 20.0 2631.6 5057.2 1.6

[0154] Polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (10-13%) was carried out according to the method of Laemmli, Nature, 227680-227685 (1970) with some of the modifications of Delepelaire, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 76:115-115 (1979). The resolving gel contained a 10-13% linear gradient of acrylamide stock stabilized by a 0-10% linear gradient of sucrose. Proteins were visualized by staining with silver according to the method of Blum et al., Electrophoresis, 8:93-99 (1987), or with Coomassie Blue (0.1% Coomassie Blue R-250, 50% methanol (v/v), 10% acetic acid (v/v)).

[0155] Several protein bands (36.5 kD, 36 kD, 35 kD, and 34 kD) were associated with the first peak of activity (fxn 22). The 34 kD band did not correlate with DGAT activity in all chromatographic steps, so it was eliminated (i.e., data not shown). The second peak (fxn 28) had a higher specific activity (Table 2) and contained a major protein band at 36 kD by SDS-PAGE. Three proteins (36.5 kD, 36 kD, and 35 kD) were identified from the purification as potential DGAT candidates.

[0156] Degenerate primers designed from the amino acid sequences generated from the 36 kD peptide, were constructed in both sense and antisense orientations. These primers were employed in different combinations to amplify cDNA produced from Mortierella ramanniana total RNA. Total RNA was prepared from wet packed cells essentially as described by Jones et al., The Plant Cell, 7:359-371 (1995). cDNA was synthesized from the RNA using the Marathon cDNA Amplification Kit (BD Biosciences Clontech, Inc. Palo Alto, Calif.). The amplification mixture consisted of template, polymerase chain reaction buffer, 200-300 ng of each primer, 2.5 mM dNTP, and 1 unit of AmpliTaq Gold polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Norwalk, Conn.) in 50 μL. The amplification program consisted of one 10-minute hold at 95° C., and 30 cycles of denaturation (94° C., 30 seconds), annealing (62° C., 10 seconds, 10% ramp to 50° C., 15 seconds), and primer extension (72° C., 2 minutes). Products of the reaction were separated on a 0.7% agarose gel, excised, and purified according to the QIAPREP DNA extraction handbook (Qiagen, Santa Clara, Calif.). The purified products were cloned into the pCR2.1TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) and analyzed by DNA sequencing. Comparisons between peptide sequences obtained by Edman degradation that were not used to design the primers and the deduced amino acid sequences of PCR products were used to confirm the identity of the fragments.

[0157] RACE reactions (Marathon cDNA Amplification Kit) using primers specific to these fragments were performed to yield a 1312 base pair (bp) long cDNA that was cloned into the pCR2.1-TOPO vector. The most 5′ ATG codon of this reading frame was located at bp 76, allowing for the translation of a polypeptide of 355 amino acids in length (FIG. 1, MrDGAT2A).

[0158] Genbank searches showed that these polypeptides are not sequence-related to the known DGAT1 or any other acyl transferases, but are members of a previously unannotated gene family present in major phyla of eukaryotes, in particular fungi, plants, animal, and basal eukaryotes.

[0159] The commercial BAC-to-BAC Baculovirus Expression System (Life Technologies, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.) was used to express full-length proteins of Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A and DGAT2B in cultured insect (sf9) cells. Full-length DGAT2 open reading frames were amplified by PCR employing primers containing restriction sites at the 5′ ends (NotI and SpeI to the sense primers and PstI to the antisense primers). The PCR products were cloned into the pCR2.1TOPO vector and sequenced to confirm the fidelity of the constructs. Full-length cDNAs in pCR2.1-TOPO vectors were digested with NotI and PstI and cloned into the NotI and PstI restriction sites of the pFASTBAC1 vector (Life Technologies, Inc.). The baculovirus expression system can be used to express the full length cDNA encoding the polypeptides that are set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 to determine DGAT activity.

[0160] Insect cells (1×10⁶ cells/mL) were infected at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.05-0.1 and harvested after 5 days at 27° C. by centrifugation. Pelleted cells were re-suspended in Buffer H (100 mM Tricine-NaOH, pH 7.8, 10% glycerol, 100 mM NaCl) and lysed by sonication (2×10 seconds). Cell walls and other debris were pelleted by centrifugation and discarded. Membranes were harvested by centrifugation of the supernatant fraction (100,000×g for one hour) and pellets were resuspended in Buffer H for enzyme assay. DGAT activity in insect cell membranes was measured as the production of ¹⁴C triacylglycerol from [1-¹⁴C] oleoyl-CoA and unlabeled dioleoyl-DAG. The reaction mixture (0.1 mL) consisted of isolated membranes, 3.5 μM [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA, 21.5 μM oleoyl-CoA and 200 μM 1,2-18:1 diacylglycerol in a buffer containing 25-30 mM Tricine (pH 7.8), 50-60 mM NaCl, and 0.06% CHAPS (w/v). Assay mixtures were incubated at 25° C. for 5-10 minutes and reactions were terminated by adding 1.5 mL of heptane:isopropanol:0.5 M H₂SO₄ (10:40:1, v/v/v). Samples were processed as described above. Assays were linear with respect to protein and time.

[0161] A significant elevation in DGAT activity was detected relative to untransformed sf9 cells for both Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A (94-fold) and DGAT2B proteins (37-fold) (Table 2). TABLE 2 Sample DGAT Activity Insect Cell Membranes pmol/min/mg Control 1299.7 MrDGAT2A 122182.1 MrDGAT2B 48146.0

[0162] Enzymological properties of the expressed Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A and DGAT2B genes were also investigated. The effect of pH on DGAT activity was evaluated over a range of 4.0 to 11.0. The pH optimum for both enzymes was observed at 6.8. No differences were detected between the two polypeptides with respect to pH. A difference was observed in their response to temperature. The temperature optimum for DGAT2A was 37° C. whereas DGAT2B does not demonstrate an optimum temperature

Example 2

[0163] Isolation of Neurospora crassa DGAT2 Nucleic Acid Sequence and Confirmation of DGAT Activity

[0164] The following protocol was used to obtain the entire coding region corresponding to the Neurospora crassa DGAT2 protein (NcDGAT2). RNA was isolated from Neurospora crassa mating type A (Fungal Genetics Stock Center, Kansas City, Kans.) mycelium using Tri-Reagent (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) according to the manufacturer's protocol. First-strand cDNA synthesis was completed using the SMART cDNA Amplification kit (Clontech, California). Based on sequence comparisons to the Neurospora crassa genomic sequences, gene specific primers were designed to amplify the full-length coding regions of the NcDGAT2 sequence. Additional restriction sites were introduced to facilitate cloning (HindIII and RsrII), using the primers designated SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8 (FIG. 3). The PCR product was cloned into plasmid pCR2.1 according to the manufacturer's protocol (Invitrogen) to yield plasmid pMON69834. Double-stranded DNA sequencing was done to verify the sequence (SEQ ID NO: 13). For expression of the NcDGAT2 protein in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system, the RsrII -HindIII fragment of pMON69834 was cloned into RsrII-HindIII-digested plasmid pFASTBAC1 (Gibco-BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). The resulting plasmid, pMON69839, was transformed into E. coli DH10BAC and the protein was expressed using the BAC-to-BAC Baculovirus Expression System (Gibco-BRL) according to the manufacturers directions, excepting that harvesting of recombinant viruses was done 5 days post-transfection. The supernatant from the transfection mixture was used for generating virus stock, which in turn was used for infecting Sf9 cells for use in the assay. DGAT activity was measured as the production of ¹⁴C triacylglycerol from [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA and unlabeled dioleoyl-DAG. The reaction mixture (0.1 mL) consisted of isolated membranes, 3.5 μM [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA, 21.5 μM oleoyl-CoA and 200 μM 1,2-18:1 diacylglycerol in a buffer containing 25-30 mM Tricine (pH 7.8), 50-60 mM NaCl, and 0.06% CHAPS (w/v). Assay mixtures were incubated at 25° C. for 5-10 minutes and reactions were terminated by adding 1.5 mL of heptane:isopropanol:0.5 M H₂SO₄ (10:40:1, v/v/v). Samples were processed as described in Example 1. DGAT activity was increased 6-fold in the cells transformed with plasmid pMON69839 relative to activity in untransformed (sf9) cells.

[0165] For expression of the NcDGAT2 sequence in plants, the gene was PCRamplified from pMON69834 in order to introduce NotI and Sse8387I cloning sites using primers oligoDB#19911 (SEQ ID NO: 9) and oligoDB#19912 (SEQ ID NO: 10) (FIG. 3). The PCR product was digested with NotI-Sse8387I and the 1071 bp fragment was ligated with the NotI-Sse8387I-digested vector from pMON67164 to form pMON68762. In this plasmid the gene is under control of a napin promotor. Plasmid pMON68762 was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens ABI strain, which was used to transform soybean as described in Martinell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301.

Example 3

[0166] Preparation and Transformation of Resynthesized DGAT2 Genes

[0167] A codon usage table was constructed from 8 highly expressed seed specific proteins from soybean namely conglycinin (GenBank Accession # AB008678, AB008679, AB008680), glycinin (AB003680, AB004062), and globulin (D16107, U59425), and 14 highly expressed seed specific proteins from canola namely cuciferin, (GenBank Accession # 167133, 167135, 17800, 17804, 17810, 21117), and napin (AA349403, 167176, 167178, 167174, 167154, 17836, 17834, 17832). The MrDGAT2B and ScDGAT2 amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6, respectively), along with the codon usage table described above, were sent to Blue Heron Biotechnology Inc., (Bothell, Wash.), who then utilized a proprietary algorithm to generate the final codon-optimized nucleotide sequence with the lowest free energy-of-forming RNA secondary structures. The codon-optimized sequence of MrDGAT2B was synthesized by Blue Heron Biotechnology, Inc., and named MrDGAT2B.nno (SEQ ID NO: 11). The codon-optimized sequence of ScDGAT2 was synthesized by Midland Certified Reagent Company (Midland, Tex.) and named ScDGAT2.nno (SEQ ID NO: 16).

[0168] Plasmid pMON70924, containing MrDGAT2B.nno in an E. coli expression vector, was sequenced to confirm DNA as reported by Blue Heron Biotechnology. Plasmid DNA was digested with XhoI and filled to make a blunt end and then was digested with Sse8387I. The 1068 bp fragment was ligated with the blunt/Sse8387I-digested vector pMON70918 to form pMON70925. In this plasmid the gene is under control of a napin promotor.

[0169] Plasmid pMON70917, containing ScDGAT2.nno, was sequenced to confirm DNA as reported by Midland Certified Reagent Company. Plasmid DNA was digested with NotI-Sse8387I and the 1269 bp fragment was gel purified. The fragment was ligated to NotI-Sse8387I-digested pMON70918 to form pMON70920. In this plasmid the gene is under control of a napin promotor. ScDGAT2.nno was cloned into another expression vector, using similar techniques, so that the gene was expressed under control of the USP88 promoter (pMON70923). Plasmids pMON70925, pMON70923, and pMON70920 were introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens ABI strain, and each were used to transform soybean as described in Martinell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301.

[0170] Similarly, the NcDGAT2 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 14) and the codon usage table described above were sent to Blue Heron Biotechnology, Inc., where a codon-optimized nucleotide sequence with the lowest free energy-of-forming RNA secondary structures was generated. The codon-optimized sequence of NcDGAT2 is synthesized by Blue Heron Technology and is named NcDGAT2.nno (SEQ ID NO: 12). The resynthesized NcDGAT2.nno is sequenced to confirm DNA as reported by Blue Heron Biotechnology. Plasmid DNA is digested with NotI-Sse8387I and the fragment is gel purified. The fragment is ligated to NotI-Sse8387I digested pMON67164 to create a plasmid where the gene is under control of a napin promotor.

[0171] Vectors are constructed that express a sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 17, 19, 21, and 23, in the genome of a plant host to obtain transcription or transcription and translation of the sequence to effect phenotypic change. Transgenic soybean plants can be obtained by

[0172] Agrobacterium-mediated transformation as described by Martinell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301.

Example 4

[0173] Expression of DGAT2 in Plants

[0174] A resynthesized Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A gene, MrDGAT2A.nno, (SEQ ID NO: 15) was expressed in soybean under control of soybean 7S promoter sequence (pCGN8832). Plants were transformed by particle bombardment and enzyme assays were performed on pooled, developing R₁ seed. Several plants exhibited significant increases (5-20 fold, Students t Test, alpha=0.05) in DGAT activity relative to untransformed plants and are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 Sample pCGN8832 DGAT Activity R1 Developing seed pools pmol/min/mg Control 1 37.4 Control 2 146.7 8832-13 27.0 8832-9 40.4 8832-2 55.1 8832-12 57.4 8832-1 92.9 8832-7 96.1 8832-6 111.2 8832-17 115.2 8832-3 134.6 8832-5 183.0 8832-15 188.1 8832-16 190.9 8832-8 561.5 8832-11 672.0 8832-4 709.5 8832-10 741.5 8832-14 901.3

[0175] DGAT activity in plants was assayed as follows. Developing embryos were ground in liquid nitrogen using a mortar and pestle. A portion of the sample was reconstituted with Tricine buffer (100 mM Tricine, pH7.5, 280 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol) and protein concentration was determined using Bradford reagent (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989). Samples were diluted to 1 mg/ml and 10 μl were used in the assay. DGAT activity was measured as the production of ¹⁴C triacylglycerol from [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA and unlabeled dioleoyl-DAG. The reaction mixture (0.1 mL) consisted of protein homogenates, 3.5 μM [1-¹⁴C]oleoyl-CoA, 10 μM oleoyl-CoA and 1.5 mM 1,2-18:1 diacylglycerol in a buffer containing 25 mM Tricine (pH 7.8), 28 mM NaCl, and 0.06% CHAPS (w/v). Assay mixtures were incubated at 25° C. for 10 minutes and reactions were terminated by adding 1.5 mL of heptane:isopropanol:0.5 M H₂SO₄ (10:40:1, v/v/v). Samples were processed as described in Example 1.

[0176] R₁ seed from plants expressing the MrDGAT2A.nno gene were advanced to the next generation (R₂). Oil and protein levels were determined by Near-Infra-Red (NIR) analysis of mature R₂ seed. NIR spectra of pooled seed samples harvested from individual plants are measured, and oil levels are calculated based on regression analysis using a standard curve generated from analysis of soybean seed with varying oil levels as determined gravimetrically following accelerated solvent extraction (Better Solutions for Food and Beverage Analysis, 2^(nd) Edition, Dionex Corporation, Sunnyvale, Calif. (1997)). A statistically significant increase of 1.7% was observed between the oil mean of seeds homozygous for MrDGAT2A.nno compared to the oil mean of seeds that did not contain the transgene (nulls) (Students T test, alpha=0.05). A statistical evaluation of the protein data showed there was no difference in the means (Students T test, alpha=0.05).

[0177] For expression of the resynthesized MrDGAT2A sequence in plants under the control of the napin promoter, the NotI-Sse 8387I fragment was ligated with the NotI-Sse8387I-digested binary vector pMON67164 to yield plasmid pMON70904. Plasmid pMON70904 was introduced into the Agrobacterium tumefaciens ABI strain, which was then used to transform soybean. Developing R1 seed was harvested from the R0 plant and assayed for DGAT activity. A selected number of events with elevated activity were advanced one generation (R2 seed). Oil levels and protein levels in mature second generation seed were determined by Near Infrared Transmittance (NIT) spectroscopy, whereby NIT spectra of pooled seed samples harvested from individual plants are measured, and oil and protein levels are calculated based on regression analysis using a standard curve generated from analysis of soybean seed with varying oil or protein levels, as determined gravimetrically following accelerated solvent extraction or elemental (% N) analysis, respectively. A statistically significant increase of 2.6% was observed between the oil mean of seeds homozygous for MrDGAT2A.nno compared to the oil mean of seeds that did not contain the transgene (nulls) (Students t Test, alpha=0.05). A statistical evaluation of the protein data showed there was no difference in the means (Students t Test, alpha=0.05).

Example 5

[0178] Expression of DGAT2 from Multiple Promoters

[0179] Two proteins exhibiting DGAT2 activity were identified in Mortierella ramanniana (MrDGAT2A and MrDGAT2B). To construct a plasmid capable of expressing two DGAT genes, 2 genes were cloned into the same plasmid on a single t-DNA. Plasmid pMON70927 contained MrDGAT2A.nno (SEQ ID NO: 15) under control of the 7Sa′ promotor and MrDGAT2B.nno (SEQ ID NO: 11) under control of the napin promoter. The cloning was as follows: pMON70900, containing MrDGAT2A.nno under control of the 7Sa′ promoter, was digested with EcoRV and filled to make blunt ends. The DNA was then cut with NotI and the 7Sa′:MrDGAT2A.nno fragment was gel purified. The fragment was ligated to the blunt/NotI-digested plant expression vector pMON63689 to form pMON70912. To obtain MrDGAT2B.nno, pMON70924 was digested with XhoI and EcoRI and the ends were filled to create a blunt/blunt fragment that was 1071 bp long. The fragment was gel purified and then ligated to blunt/blunt pCGN7770 (an E. coli expression vector containing the napin promoter and 3′ UTR) to form pMON70926. This plasmid containing MrDGAT2B.nno in the napin expression cassette was digested with NotI and the fragment was ligated to NotI-digested pMON70912, described above, to form pMON70927. pMON70927 was introduced into A. tumefaciens ABI strain, which was used to transform soybean as described in Martinell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301.

[0180] Other DGAT2 genes, including, but not limited to, MrDGAT2A (SEQ ID NO: 1), MrDGAT2B (SEQ ID NO: 3), ScDAGT2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), NcDGAT2 (SEQ ID NO: 13), NcDGAT2.nno (SEQ ID NO: 12), and ScDGAT2.nno (SEQ ID NO: 16) are cloned in a similar manner, either in paris or in duplicate. The promoters that are used control the expression with respect to time and/or strength.

Example 6

[0181] Expression of MrDGAT2A in Corn Germ

[0182] An expression vector was prepared to engineer germ-targeted expression of the resynthesized Mortierella ramanniana DGAT2A (SEQ ID NO: 15) gene in corn. Specifically, the full length MrDGAT2A.nno gene (SEQ ID NO: 15) contained in a 1076 base pair Not I/Sse8387I fragment was cloned into the Bsp120I/Sse8387I sites of pMON72021 directly 3′ of the Zea mays L3 oleosin promoter followed by the rice actin intron and 5′ of the globulin 1 3′ UTR to produce pMON68654 (FIG. 6).

[0183] The construct pMON68654 was transformed into the elite maize line LH59 by Agrobacterium tumefaciens ABI-mediated transformation. Events resulting from this transformation demonstrate an increase in oil.

1 34 1 1068 DNA Mortierella ramanniana 1 atggccagca aggatcaaca tttacagcag aaggtcaagc atacgctaga agctatccca 60 tcccctcgct atgctccatt gcgagtgcca ttaagacgga gattacaaac attggcagtt 120 ttattatggt gttccatgat gtcaatatgc atgttcatat tcttcttttt atgctccatt 180 cctgttctcc tttggttccc cattatcctt tatttgacct ggatcttggt gtgggataag 240 gcgccagaga acggtggaag acctattcgc tggctgcgga atgctgcttg gtggaagctg 300 tttgcagggt attttcccgc acatgtcatc aaggaagccg atttagatcc atccaagaac 360 tacatctttg gttatcaccc ccatggaatc atatccatgg gctcgttctg tacttttagt 420 accaatgcta ctggctttga tgacttgttc ccaggcatcc ggccatcgct tttgacatta 480 acatctaatt ttaatatccc actttatcgt gattatttga tggcgtgcgg actttgctcc 540 gtctccaaaa catcctgtca aaatatttta accaaaggtg gtccgggccg ttccattgcc 600 attgtcgtgg gaggtgcttc cgagtctctc aatgctagac ccggtgtcat ggaccttgtg 660 ttgaagagac gctttggttt tatcaagatt gctgttcaaa ccggtgcaag tctagtgccc 720 actatcagtt ttggtgaaaa tgagctgtac gaacagattg aaagcaatga aaactcaaag 780 ttgcatagat ggcaaaagaa gattcaacat gcccttggtt ttactatgcc gctctttcat 840 ggacgcggtg tattcaatta tgactttggt ttgctccccc atcgccatcc tatctacacg 900 attgttggaa agcccatccc cgtccctagc atcaagtatg gacagacaaa ggatgagatt 960 ataagagaac tacatgactc gtacatgcat gccgtgcagg atctctatga tcgttacaag 1020 gatatctatg caaaggatcg ggtaaaagaa ctagaattcg tcgaatag 1068 2 355 PRT Mortierella ramanniana 2 Met Ala Ser Lys Asp Gln His Leu Gln Gln Lys Val Lys His Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Ala Ile Pro Ser Pro Arg Tyr Ala Pro Leu Arg Val Pro Leu Arg 20 25 30 Arg Arg Leu Gln Thr Leu Ala Val Leu Leu Trp Cys Ser Met Met Ser 35 40 45 Ile Cys Met Phe Ile Phe Phe Phe Leu Cys Ser Ile Pro Val Leu Leu 50 55 60 Trp Phe Pro Ile Ile Leu Tyr Leu Thr Trp Ile Leu Val Trp Asp Lys 65 70 75 80 Ala Pro Glu Asn Gly Gly Arg Pro Ile Arg Trp Leu Arg Asn Ala Ala 85 90 95 Trp Trp Lys Leu Phe Ala Gly Tyr Phe Pro Ala His Val Ile Lys Glu 100 105 110 Ala Asp Leu Asp Pro Ser Lys Asn Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His 115 120 125 Gly Ile Ile Ser Met Gly Ser Phe Cys Thr Phe Ser Thr Asn Ala Thr 130 135 140 Gly Phe Asp Asp Leu Phe Pro Gly Ile Arg Pro Ser Leu Leu Thr Leu 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Asn Phe Asn Ile Pro Leu Tyr Arg Asp Tyr Leu Met Ala Cys 165 170 175 Gly Leu Cys Ser Val Ser Lys Thr Ser Cys Gln Asn Ile Leu Thr Lys 180 185 190 Gly Gly Pro Gly Arg Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Glu 195 200 205 Ser Leu Asn Ala Arg Pro Gly Val Met Asp Leu Val Leu Lys Arg Arg 210 215 220 Phe Gly Phe Ile Lys Ile Ala Val Gln Thr Gly Ala Ser Leu Val Pro 225 230 235 240 Thr Ile Ser Phe Gly Glu Asn Glu Leu Tyr Glu Gln Ile Glu Ser Asn 245 250 255 Glu Asn Ser Lys Leu His Arg Trp Gln Lys Lys Ile Gln His Ala Leu 260 265 270 Gly Phe Thr Met Pro Leu Phe His Gly Arg Gly Val Phe Asn Tyr Asp 275 280 285 Phe Gly Leu Leu Pro His Arg His Pro Ile Tyr Thr Ile Val Gly Lys 290 295 300 Pro Ile Pro Val Pro Ser Ile Lys Tyr Gly Gln Thr Lys Asp Glu Ile 305 310 315 320 Ile Arg Glu Leu His Asp Ser Tyr Met His Ala Val Gln Asp Leu Tyr 325 330 335 Asp Arg Tyr Lys Asp Ile Tyr Ala Lys Asp Arg Val Lys Glu Leu Glu 340 345 350 Phe Val Glu 355 3 1050 DNA Mortierella ramanniana 3 atggaacaag tccaagtcac tgcattgctc gaccacattc ccaaagtcca ttgggcaccg 60 ctccgtggga tccctttgaa gcgtcgctta caaacgtcgg ctatcgtcac atggctggct 120 ttgcttccta tctgtctcat tatatacctg tacctattca ccattccctt attatggccc 180 atcctcatta tgtatacgat atggctgttt ttcgacaaag cccctgaaaa cggaggcaga 240 cgaatttcgc tggtgaggaa attgccgctg tggaagcatt ttgccaatta tttcccagtc 300 cctttgatca aggaaggaga cctcgacccc aagggaaact acatcatgtc atatcatccg 360 catggaataa tatccatggc ggcttttgcc aattttgcga ctgaggcgac tgggttttcc 420 gagcaatatc cgggtattgt tccttcatta ctgacgctag catccaattt tcggttgcca 480 ttgtaccgag atttcatgat gtcactaggc atgtgctcgg tatcgcgaca ctcctgtgaa 540 gctatccttc gttcggggcc cggtcgatcc attgtgattg ttacaggcgg agcttcagaa 600 tcccttagcg cacgaccagg caccaacgac ctcaccctca agaaacgatt gggtttcatc 660 cgactagcca ttcgaaatgg tgccagttta gtgcctatct tttcgtttgg agagaacgac 720 atctacgagc aatatgataa caaaaagggc agtttgatat ggcggtacca aaaatggttc 780 caaaaaatta caggattcac ggttcctttg gctcatgccc gtggcatttt caactacaat 840 gctgggttta taccattccg acatccgata gtgacagttg ttggcaaacc tattgctgtc 900 cccctcttgg ctgaaggcga aaccgaacct agcgaggagc aaatgcatca agttcaagca 960 cagtacattg aaagtttgca ggctatttat gataaataca aagatattta tgctaaggat 1020 agaataaaag atatgaccat gattgcataa 1050 4 349 PRT Mortierella ramanniana 4 Met Glu Gln Val Gln Val Thr Ala Leu Leu Asp His Ile Pro Lys Val 1 5 10 15 His Trp Ala Pro Leu Arg Gly Ile Pro Leu Lys Arg Arg Leu Gln Thr 20 25 30 Ser Ala Ile Val Thr Trp Leu Ala Leu Leu Pro Ile Cys Leu Ile Ile 35 40 45 Tyr Leu Tyr Leu Phe Thr Ile Pro Leu Leu Trp Pro Ile Leu Ile Met 50 55 60 Tyr Thr Ile Trp Leu Phe Phe Asp Lys Ala Pro Glu Asn Gly Gly Arg 65 70 75 80 Arg Ile Ser Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Pro Leu Trp Lys His Phe Ala Asn 85 90 95 Tyr Phe Pro Val Pro Leu Ile Lys Glu Gly Asp Leu Asp Pro Lys Gly 100 105 110 Asn Tyr Ile Met Ser Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile Ser Met Ala Ala 115 120 125 Phe Ala Asn Phe Ala Thr Glu Ala Thr Gly Phe Ser Glu Gln Tyr Pro 130 135 140 Gly Ile Val Pro Ser Leu Leu Thr Leu Ala Ser Asn Phe Arg Leu Pro 145 150 155 160 Leu Tyr Arg Asp Phe Met Met Ser Leu Gly Met Cys Ser Val Ser Arg 165 170 175 His Ser Cys Glu Ala Ile Leu Arg Ser Gly Pro Gly Arg Ser Ile Val 180 185 190 Ile Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Ser Glu Ser Leu Ser Ala Arg Pro Gly Thr 195 200 205 Asn Asp Leu Thr Leu Lys Lys Arg Leu Gly Phe Ile Arg Leu Ala Ile 210 215 220 Arg Asn Gly Ala Ser Leu Val Pro Ile Phe Ser Phe Gly Glu Asn Asp 225 230 235 240 Ile Tyr Glu Gln Tyr Asp Asn Lys Lys Gly Ser Leu Ile Trp Arg Tyr 245 250 255 Gln Lys Trp Phe Gln Lys Ile Thr Gly Phe Thr Val Pro Leu Ala His 260 265 270 Ala Arg Gly Ile Phe Asn Tyr Asn Ala Gly Phe Ile Pro Phe Arg His 275 280 285 Pro Ile Val Thr Val Val Gly Lys Pro Ile Ala Val Pro Leu Leu Ala 290 295 300 Glu Gly Glu Thr Glu Pro Ser Glu Glu Gln Met His Gln Val Gln Ala 305 310 315 320 Gln Tyr Ile Glu Ser Leu Gln Ala Ile Tyr Asp Lys Tyr Lys Asp Ile 325 330 335 Tyr Ala Lys Asp Arg Ile Lys Asp Met Thr Met Ile Ala 340 345 5 1257 DNA Saccharomyces cerevisiae 5 atgtcaggaa cattcaatga tataagaaga aggaagaagg aagaaggaag ccctacagcc 60 ggtattaccg aaaggcatga gaataagtct ttgtcaagca tcgataaaag agaacagact 120 ctcaaaccac aactagagtc atgctgtcca ttggcgaccc cttttgaaag aaggttacaa 180 actctggctg tagcatggca cacttcttca tttgtactct tctccatatt tacgttattt 240 gcaatctcga caccagcact gtgggttctt gctattccat atatgattta tttttttttc 300 gataggtctc ctgcaactgg cgaagtggta aatcgatact ctcttcgatt tcgttcattg 360 cccatttgga agtggtattg tgattatttc cctataagtt tgattaaaac tgtcaattta 420 aaaccaactt ttacgctttc aaaaaataag agagttaacg aaaaaaatta caagattaga 480 ttgtggccaa ctaagtattc cattaatctc aaaagcaact ctactattga ctatcgcaac 540 caggaatgta cagggccaac gtacttattt ggttaccatc cacacggcat aggagcactt 600 ggtgcgtttg gagcgtttgc aacagaaggt tgtaactatt ccaagatttt cccaggtatt 660 cctatttctc tgatgacact ggtcacacaa tttcatatcc cattgtatag agactactta 720 ttggcgttag gtatttcttc agtatctcgg aaaaacgctt taaggactct aagcaaaaat 780 cagtcgatct gcattgttgt tggtggcgct agggaatctt tattaagttc aacaaatggt 840 acacaactga ttttaaacaa aagaaagggt tttattaaac tggccattca aacggggaat 900 attaacctag tgcctgtgtt tgcatttgga gaggtggact gttataatgt tctgagcaca 960 aaaaaagatt cagtcctggg taaaatgcaa ctatggttca aagaaaactt tggttttacc 1020 attcccattt tctacgcaag aggattattc aattacgatt tcggtttgtt gccatttaga 1080 gcgcctatca atgttgttgt tggaaggcct atatacgttg aaaagaaaat aacaaatccg 1140 ccagatgatg ttgttaatca tttccatgat ttgtatattg cggagttgaa aagactatat 1200 tacgaaaata gagaaaaata tggggtaccg gatgcagaat tgaagatagt tgggtaa 1257 6 418 PRT Saccharomyces cerevisiae 6 Met Ser Gly Thr Phe Asn Asp Ile Arg Arg Arg Lys Lys Glu Glu Gly 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Thr Ala Gly Ile Thr Glu Arg His Glu Asn Lys Ser Leu Ser 20 25 30 Ser Ile Asp Lys Arg Glu Gln Thr Leu Lys Pro Gln Leu Glu Ser Cys 35 40 45 Cys Pro Leu Ala Thr Pro Phe Glu Arg Arg Leu Gln Thr Leu Ala Val 50 55 60 Ala Trp His Thr Ser Ser Phe Val Leu Phe Ser Ile Phe Thr Leu Phe 65 70 75 80 Ala Ile Ser Thr Pro Ala Leu Trp Val Leu Ala Ile Pro Tyr Met Ile 85 90 95 Tyr Phe Phe Phe Asp Arg Ser Pro Ala Thr Gly Glu Val Val Asn Arg 100 105 110 Tyr Ser Leu Arg Phe Arg Ser Leu Pro Ile Trp Lys Trp Tyr Cys Asp 115 120 125 Tyr Phe Pro Ile Ser Leu Ile Lys Thr Val Asn Leu Lys Pro Thr Phe 130 135 140 Thr Leu Ser Lys Asn Lys Arg Val Asn Glu Lys Asn Tyr Lys Ile Arg 145 150 155 160 Leu Trp Pro Thr Lys Tyr Ser Ile Asn Leu Lys Ser Asn Ser Thr Ile 165 170 175 Asp Tyr Arg Asn Gln Glu Cys Thr Gly Pro Thr Tyr Leu Phe Gly Tyr 180 185 190 His Pro His Gly Ile Gly Ala Leu Gly Ala Phe Gly Ala Phe Ala Thr 195 200 205 Glu Gly Cys Asn Tyr Ser Lys Ile Phe Pro Gly Ile Pro Ile Ser Leu 210 215 220 Met Thr Leu Val Thr Gln Phe His Ile Pro Leu Tyr Arg Asp Tyr Leu 225 230 235 240 Leu Ala Leu Gly Ile Ser Ser Val Ser Arg Lys Asn Ala Leu Arg Thr 245 250 255 Leu Ser Lys Asn Gln Ser Ile Cys Ile Val Val Gly Gly Ala Arg Glu 260 265 270 Ser Leu Leu Ser Ser Thr Asn Gly Thr Gln Leu Ile Leu Asn Lys Arg 275 280 285 Lys Gly Phe Ile Lys Leu Ala Ile Gln Thr Gly Asn Ile Asn Leu Val 290 295 300 Pro Val Phe Ala Phe Gly Glu Val Asp Cys Tyr Asn Val Leu Ser Thr 305 310 315 320 Lys Lys Asp Ser Val Leu Gly Lys Met Gln Leu Trp Phe Lys Glu Asn 325 330 335 Phe Gly Phe Thr Ile Pro Ile Phe Tyr Ala Arg Gly Leu Phe Asn Tyr 340 345 350 Asp Phe Gly Leu Leu Pro Phe Arg Ala Pro Ile Asn Val Val Val Gly 355 360 365 Arg Pro Ile Tyr Val Glu Lys Lys Ile Thr Asn Pro Pro Asp Asp Val 370 375 380 Val Asn His Phe His Asp Leu Tyr Ile Ala Glu Leu Lys Arg Leu Tyr 385 390 395 400 Tyr Glu Asn Arg Glu Lys Tyr Gly Val Pro Asp Ala Glu Leu Lys Ile 405 410 415 Val Gly 7 43 DNA Artificial Primer 7 ggatcccggt ccgaagcgcg catggagcgg gatagagcca acg 43 8 42 DNA Artificial Primer 8 aagcttggta ccctatttca gtatctgcat ttcctcaatc cg 42 9 34 DNA Artificial Primer 9 aaaagcggcc gcatggagcg ggatagagcc aacg 34 10 33 DNA Artificial Primer 10 aaaacctgca ggctatttca gtatctgcat ttc 33 11 1050 DNA Mortierella ramanniana 11 atggagcaag ttcaggttac agcactcctc gatcacatcc ctaaagtgca ttgggcccct 60 cttaggggta ttcctttgaa acgcagattg caaacttcag ccatcgttac ctggctcgca 120 ctcctcccta tatgcctcat aatatacctt tacctcttca ccatccctct tctctggcca 180 attcttatca tgtacaccat ctggctattt ttcgacaaag ctcccgaaaa cggtggtcgt 240 agaatctcct tggtcagaaa acttccccta tggaaacact tcgcaaacta cttccctgtc 300 acactcatta aagaggggga ccttgaccca aaaggaaact acataatgag ctaccatcca 360 cacggtatca tctctatggc agccttcgcc aacttcgcta ccgaggcaac cggtttctcc 420 gaacaatacc ctggtatcgt gccaagcctt ctaaccctcg cctctaactt cagacttcca 480 ttgtatagag acttcatgat gtccctcggt atgtgctctg ttagtcgtca ctcctgtgaa 540 gcaatactta gatccggacc aggaaggagt atcgttatag ttaccggtgg agcctctgaa 600 tccctcagtg ctagacccgg cacgaatgat ttgaccctta agaagagact cggttttatt 660 cgtctcgcaa taagaaacgg cgctagtctt gtgcctattt tcagtttcgg tgaaaatgac 720 atttacgagc aatacgataa taaaaagggc tcccttatct ggcgttacca gaagtggttc 780 cagaagatta ccggattcac tgtcccactt gctcacgccc gcggtatatt caactataat 840 gccggtttca tcccttttag gcaccctatc gtcacagttg tcggtaaacc aatcgcagtt 900 ccattgcttg ctgaaggaga gacagagcca tccgaggagc agatgcacca agtccaggca 960 caatatattg agagtcttca ggctatatac gacaagtaca aagatattta tgctaaagat 1020 cgcattaaag acatgactat gatcgcctaa 1050 12 1059 DNA Neurospora crassa 12 atggaaagag atagagctaa tgcctaccaa gcagccggaa taagattcgc ccctttcaac 60 ataccacttc aaagacgtct ccaaacactt gcagtcctac ttcacagcct cattatagct 120 accaccgttt cattcttctt ttttctctgc gcgataccac tactatggcc tcttgttatc 180 ccctatctcc ttcatatgct cctctccaaa gccgcaagcg acgggaaact caggttcaga 240 tcagaacgct ttagacactc cagaatatgg cactttttcg cagattactt cccagctaaa 300 ctacacaaaa ctcacgactt gccagcagat agaaaataca ttttcggtta tcatccccac 360 ggtataatct cacatggtgc ttacgctgcc ttcgcaacag aagctctcgg atttagtgaa 420 aaattcccag gtataacaaa ctcacttctc actcttgaca gcaatttcag aatcccaatt 480 taccgcgact acattctctc catgggcctc agatcagtta gcaaagaatc tatcacgaac 540 attctctctc gcggtggaac tgatggacac ggcgccggta gggctgttac tattgtgatc 600 ggcggtgcca gggaatcact cgaagctcaa cccggaactc tcagacttgt gctaggtgaa 660 cgcaaaggct tcgttaaagt tgcaatgaga accggagcag atattgtgcc agttcttgct 720 ttcggtgaaa acgaccttta cgaccaagtt tctccaaaat cacaccctta ccttcataga 780 ctccaaatgt tcgttctcag aaccctcaaa ttcacacttc cctttctcca cggacgcgga 840 atctttaact acgacgtcgg actcatgcct tatagaagac cactcaacat cgttgttgga 900 aagccaatta gggttacaaa acgtgccgaa tcagacctag aaaccagcga aattgaccaa 960 cttcacggcc tttatgttaa ggaactagaa aaaatgtggg aacgctacaa agatggattc 1020 gcccctgaaa gaattgaaga aatgcagatc cttaaataa 1059 13 1059 DNA Neurospora crassa 13 atggagcggg atagagccaa cgcataccag gctgccggca tcagatttgc gccatttaac 60 atacctttac agcgaagact ccagaccctg gcggttctgc tacactcgct gattattgcc 120 actaccgtat ccttcttttt cttcctgtgc gccatccctt tactctggcc attggttatc 180 ccatatcttc ttcatatgct gcttagcaaa gcagcatccg atggaaagtt gcgcttccgc 240 tcagaaagat tccggcactc ccgaatctgg cacttctttg cagactactt cccggctaag 300 ctgcacaaga cgcacgatct tcccgccgat aggaagtaca tctttggtta tcacccccac 360 ggcatcatct cacatggcgc ttacgccgct tttgccaccg aagccctcgg tttctctgag 420 aaattccccg gaattaccaa cagcctgctt accctggaca gtaacttccg cattccgatt 480 taccgcgact atatccttag catgggcctc cgctccgttt cgaaggagtc aatcaccaat 540 atcctcagcc gcggcggtac tgacggtcac ggcgcgggcc gtgctgttac cattgttatt 600 ggtggtgctc gagaatcact ggaggctcaa cctggtacac tccgtctcgt gctcggcgag 660 cgcaagggct tcgtcaaggt ggccatgcgc actggcgctg acatcgtccc cgtgctcgca 720 tttggcgaga acgatctcta cgatcaggtc agtcccaaga gccatccgta cttgcatagg 780 ctccagatgt ttgtgctccg aaccctcaag ttcactctgc cgtttttgca tggaagaggc 840 attttcaact acgatgtggg cctgatgcca taccgccggc cgttgaacat tgttgtcggc 900 aagccgatcc gggttacaaa gagggccgag agcgacctgg agacaagcga gattgaccag 960 ctacacggcc tttatgtaaa ggagctggaa aagatgtggg agcgctacaa ggacgggttt 1020 gccccagaac ggattgagga aatgcagata ctgaaatag 1059 14 352 PRT Neurospora crassa 14 Met Glu Arg Asp Arg Ala Asn Ala Tyr Gln Ala Ala Gly Ile Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 Ala Pro Phe Asn Ile Pro Leu Gln Arg Arg Leu Gln Thr Leu Ala Val 20 25 30 Leu Leu His Ser Leu Ile Ile Ala Thr Thr Val Ser Phe Phe Phe Phe 35 40 45 Leu Cys Ala Ile Pro Leu Leu Trp Pro Leu Val Ile Pro Tyr Leu Leu 50 55 60 His Met Leu Leu Ser Lys Ala Ala Ser Asp Gly Lys Leu Arg Phe Arg 65 70 75 80 Ser Glu Arg Phe Arg His Ser Arg Ile Trp His Phe Phe Ala Asp Tyr 85 90 95 Phe Pro Ala Lys Leu His Lys Thr His Asp Leu Pro Ala Asp Arg Lys 100 105 110 Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile Ser His Gly Ala Tyr 115 120 125 Ala Ala Phe Ala Thr Glu Ala Leu Gly Phe Ser Glu Lys Phe Pro Gly 130 135 140 Ile Thr Asn Ser Leu Leu Thr Leu Asp Ser Asn Phe Arg Ile Pro Ile 145 150 155 160 Tyr Arg Asp Tyr Ile Leu Ser Met Gly Leu Arg Ser Val Ser Lys Glu 165 170 175 Ser Ile Thr Asn Ile Leu Ser Arg Gly Gly Thr Asp Gly His Gly Ala 180 185 190 Gly Arg Ala Val Thr Ile Val Ile Gly Gly Ala Arg Glu Ser Leu Glu 195 200 205 Ala Gln Pro Gly Thr Leu Arg Leu Val Leu Gly Glu Arg Lys Gly Phe 210 215 220 Val Lys Val Ala Met Arg Thr Gly Ala Asp Ile Val Pro Val Leu Ala 225 230 235 240 Phe Gly Glu Asn Asp Leu Tyr Asp Gln Val Ser Pro Lys Ser His Pro 245 250 255 Tyr Leu His Arg Leu Gln Met Phe Val Leu Arg Thr Leu Lys Phe Thr 260 265 270 Leu Pro Phe Leu His Gly Arg Gly Ile Phe Asn Tyr Asp Val Gly Leu 275 280 285 Met Pro Tyr Arg Arg Pro Leu Asn Ile Val Val Gly Lys Pro Ile Arg 290 295 300 Val Thr Lys Arg Ala Glu Ser Asp Leu Glu Thr Ser Glu Ile Asp Gln 305 310 315 320 Leu His Gly Leu Tyr Val Lys Glu Leu Glu Lys Met Trp Glu Arg Tyr 325 330 335 Lys Asp Gly Phe Ala Pro Glu Arg Ile Glu Glu Met Gln Ile Leu Lys 340 345 350 15 1068 DNA Mortierella ramannaina 15 atggctagca aggaccagca cctccaacag aaggtgaagc acacccttga ggccatccca 60 tcccctaggt atgctccact cagggtccca cttaggagaa ggctccaaac ccttgctgtt 120 ctcctctggt gctccatgat gagcatctgc atgttcatct tcttcttcct ctgcagcatc 180 cctgtgctcc tttggttccc aattatcctc tacttgacct ggattttggt gtgggataag 240 gcccctgaga acggaggcag acctatcagg tggctcagga acgcagcttg gtggaagctc 300 tttgctggat acttcccagc tcatgttatc aaggaggctg accttgaccc atccaagaac 360 tacatctttg gttaccaccc acatggtatc atcagcatgg gtagcttctg caccttctcc 420 accaacgcta ctggtttcga tgacctcttc ccaggaatca ggccttcctt gctcaccctc 480 accagcaact tcaacatccc actctacagg gattacctca tggcctgtgg actctgctca 540 gtgtctaaga cctcctgcca gaacatcctc accaagggtg gtccaggaag gtccattgct 600 attgtggtgg gaggtgcctc tgagtccttg aacgccagac caggagtgat ggaccttgtg 660 ttgaagagga ggtttggttt catcaagatt gctgtgcaga ctggtgctag ccttgtccct 720 accatctcct ttggtgagaa tgagctttat gagcagattg agagcaatga gaactctaag 780 cttcacaggt ggcagaagaa gatccagcat gctcttggtt tcaccatgcc actcttccat 840 ggaaggggtg tgttcaacta cgactttggt ctcctcccac acaggcaccc aatttacacc 900 attgtgggta agccaatccc agtcccatct atcaagtacg gtcagaccaa ggatgagatc 960 atcagggagc tccatgactc ttacatgcac gctgtgcagg acctctatga caggtacaag 1020 gacatctacg ccaaggacag ggtcaaggag cttgagtttg tcgagtga 1068 16 1257 DNA Saccharomyces cerevisiae 16 atgtctggaa cattcaacga tattagaaga aggaagaagg aggagggaag ccctacagcc 60 ggtattaccg agaggcatga gaacaagtct ttgtctagca tcgataagag agagcagact 120 ctcaaaccac aactcgagtc ttgctgccca ttggctaccc cttttgagag aaggcttcaa 180 actcttgctg tggcatggca cacttcttct tttgtgctct tctccatttt tactcttttt 240 gcaatctcta caccagcact ttgggttctt gctattccat acatgattta cttttttttc 300 gataggtctc ctgcaactgg cgaggtggtg aacagatact ctcttagatt tagatctttg 360 cccatttgga agtggtactg cgattacttc cctatttctt tgattaagac tgtcaacctt 420 aagccaactt ttactctttc taagaacaag agagttaacg agaagaacta caagattaga 480 ttgtggccaa ctaagtactc cattaacctc aagagcaact ctactattga ctaccgcaac 540 caggagtgca cagggccaac ttaccttttt ggttaccatc cacacggcat tggagcactt 600 ggtgcttttg gagcttttgc aacagagggt tgcaactact ccaagatttt cccaggtatt 660 cctatttctc ttatgacact tgtcacacaa tttcatatcc cattgtacag agactacctt 720 ttggctcttg gtatttcttc tgtgtctaga aagaacgctc ttaggactct cagcaagaac 780 cagtctatct gcattgttgt tggtggcgct agggagtctc ttctttcttc tacaaacggt 840 acacaactta ttcttaacaa gagaaagggt tttattaaac ttgccattca aactgggaac 900 attaacctcg tgcctgtgtt tgcatttgga gaggtggact gctacaacgt tcttagcaca 960 aagaaggatt ctgtccttgg taagatgcaa ctctggttca aggagaactt tggttttacc 1020 attcccattt tctacgcaag aggacttttc aactacgatt tcggtttgtt gccatttaga 1080 gctcctatca acgttgttgt tggaaggcct atttacgttg agaagaagat tacaaacccg 1140 ccagatgatg ttgttaacca tttccatgat ttgtacattg ctgagttgaa gagactctac 1200 tacgagaaca gagagaagta cggggtgccg gatgcagagt tgaagatagt tgggtaa 1257 17 1002 DNA Hordeum vulgare 17 atgggcgcga atggcgcgct ggaggaggag aggccgcggg ccgacggcgg cgacgaggag 60 ggcggggcga cggtgttccg gggcaccaac tactcgctgc cgcggacgat cgccgcgctg 120 gcgctgtggc tcgggggaat ccacttcaac gtcctcctca tcctcgcctc cctcttcctc 180 ttcccgctcc gcctcgccgc gctggtggtg gcgttgcagc tcatgttcat gttcatcccc 240 ctcaacgacg aggacaaact cggccgaaaa atcggcaggt tcatatgcaa gtacgccatg 300 gggtacttcc cgattagctt gcacgtggag gactacgagg ccttcgactc cagcagggct 360 tacgtgtttg gctatgaacc gcattccgtg ctgcccatcg gcgtggcggc tctggccaac 420 catgtcgggt ttatgcctct tcctaagctc aaagtcctcg cgagcagcgc ggtgttccac 480 accccattcc tgaggcagat atggacgtgg atagggctga tcgcggcaac gaggaagaat 540 ttctactcgt accttgcggc gggttacagt tgcgtcgtgg tgcccggagg tatacaggag 600 attcttcata tggatcatga ttccgaggtt gctttcctta aatcaagaaa agggtttgtc 660 aagatagcta tgcagtctgg ctgcccttta gtccctgtct tctgcttcgg acagagcaaa 720 gcttacaagt ggtggaggcc aggaggcaaa ttgtttgtga acattgctag ggcacttaaa 780 tttaccccta ttatcttctg gggaagatac gggacgccga tcgctttctc gtcacctatg 840 catgtggttg ttggaagacc cattgagctg aagaaaaatc ctctgcctac cattgatgag 900 ataaacgaag tgcacgggca attcatcggc gccttgcaag aactgtttga gaagtacaag 960 acgaaagccg gatatcccgg cctccatctg cgagtcctat aa 1002 18 333 PRT Hordeum vulgare 18 Met Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala Leu Glu Glu Glu Arg Pro Arg Ala Asp Gly 1 5 10 15 Gly Asp Glu Glu Gly Gly Ala Thr Val Phe Arg Gly Thr Asn Tyr Ser 20 25 30 Leu Pro Arg Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Ala Leu Trp Leu Gly Gly Ile His 35 40 45 Phe Asn Val Leu Leu Ile Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Leu Phe Pro Leu Arg 50 55 60 Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Val Ala Leu Gln Leu Met Phe Met Phe Ile Pro 65 70 75 80 Leu Asn Asp Glu Asp Lys Leu Gly Arg Lys Ile Gly Arg Phe Ile Cys 85 90 95 Lys Tyr Ala Met Gly Tyr Phe Pro Ile Ser Leu His Val Glu Asp Tyr 100 105 110 Glu Ala Phe Asp Ser Ser Arg Ala Tyr Val Phe Gly Tyr Glu Pro His 115 120 125 Ser Val Leu Pro Ile Gly Val Ala Ala Leu Ala Asn His Val Gly Phe 130 135 140 Met Pro Leu Pro Lys Leu Lys Val Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Val Phe His 145 150 155 160 Thr Pro Phe Leu Arg Gln Ile Trp Thr Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile Ala Ala 165 170 175 Thr Arg Lys Asn Phe Tyr Ser Tyr Leu Ala Ala Gly Tyr Ser Cys Val 180 185 190 Val Val Pro Gly Gly Ile Gln Glu Ile Leu His Met Asp His Asp Ser 195 200 205 Glu Val Ala Phe Leu Lys Ser Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Lys Ile Ala Met 210 215 220 Gln Ser Gly Cys Pro Leu Val Pro Val Phe Cys Phe Gly Gln Ser Lys 225 230 235 240 Ala Tyr Lys Trp Trp Arg Pro Gly Gly Lys Leu Phe Val Asn Ile Ala 245 250 255 Arg Ala Leu Lys Phe Thr Pro Ile Ile Phe Trp Gly Arg Tyr Gly Thr 260 265 270 Pro Ile Ala Phe Ser Ser Pro Met His Val Val Val Gly Arg Pro Ile 275 280 285 Glu Leu Lys Lys Asn Pro Leu Pro Thr Ile Asp Glu Ile Asn Glu Val 290 295 300 His Gly Gln Phe Ile Gly Ala Leu Gln Glu Leu Phe Glu Lys Tyr Lys 305 310 315 320 Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Gly Leu His Leu Arg Val Leu 325 330 19 1002 DNA Zea mays 19 atgggggcgg gaaccaataa tggcctgagc aacggcgccg ccgcagggca gcgcgcggac 60 gacgggacca cggtgttccg gggcacggcg tactcgccgc tacggaccac ggtggcgctc 120 gcgctgtggc tcggggccat ccacttcaac gccttcctcg tcctcgcctc gctcttcctc 180 ttcccgcgcc gcgtcgccgc actggtgctg gcgacgcagc tcttcttcat gttcctgccg 240 ctcagtgata agagcagact gggccgcaag atcgccaggt tcataagcaa gtacgtcatt 300 gggtattttc ccgtcacttt gcacgtggaa gactatggcg cctttgatcc caacagggct 360 tatgtgttcg gttatgagcc tcattctgtt ttgcccatag ctgttgggat cctcggggac 420 cttgttggat tcatgccgct accaaagatg aagattcttg caagcagtgc ggtgttctac 480 accccgttcc taaggcaaat atggacatgg ttggggttgg ctcctgcgtc gagaaagagt 540 ttctactcct accttggagc tggttatagc tgtattatag tgccaggagg tgtgcaggaa 600 atacttcata tggatcatga ttcagaggtt gcttttctta aaccaagaaa aggttttgtt 660 aagatagcta ttgagatggg ttgccctgta gtccccgttt ttgctttcgg acagagctat 720 gtttacaaat ggtggaggcc aggtggcaag ttaattgtca agattgctag agcaatcaaa 780 ttttctccaa taatcttctg gggaaaactg gggactccca tcccttttgc aacaccaatg 840 catgtgattg ttggaaggcc aattgaggtt gtaaagaatc ctcaacctac cattgatgag 900 ataaaccaag tccacggaca gttcgttgtt gcgatgcaag atctgttcga gaaatacaag 960 agcagaactg gataccctga tcttcagtta agagttcttt ga 1002 20 333 PRT Zea mays 20 Met Gly Ala Gly Thr Asn Asn Gly Leu Ser Asn Gly Ala Ala Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 Gln Arg Ala Asp Asp Gly Thr Thr Val Phe Arg Gly Thr Ala Tyr Ser 20 25 30 Pro Leu Arg Thr Thr Val Ala Leu Ala Leu Trp Leu Gly Ala Ile His 35 40 45 Phe Asn Ala Phe Leu Val Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Leu Phe Pro Arg Arg 50 55 60 Val Ala Ala Leu Val Leu Ala Thr Gln Leu Phe Phe Met Phe Leu Pro 65 70 75 80 Leu Ser Asp Lys Ser Arg Leu Gly Arg Lys Ile Ala Arg Phe Ile Ser 85 90 95 Lys Tyr Val Ile Gly Tyr Phe Pro Val Thr Leu His Val Glu Asp Tyr 100 105 110 Gly Ala Phe Asp Pro Asn Arg Ala Tyr Val Phe Gly Tyr Glu Pro His 115 120 125 Ser Val Leu Pro Ile Ala Val Gly Ile Leu Gly Asp Leu Val Gly Phe 130 135 140 Met Pro Leu Pro Lys Met Lys Ile Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Val Phe Tyr 145 150 155 160 Thr Pro Phe Leu Arg Gln Ile Trp Thr Trp Leu Gly Leu Ala Pro Ala 165 170 175 Ser Arg Lys Ser Phe Tyr Ser Tyr Leu Gly Ala Gly Tyr Ser Cys Ile 180 185 190 Ile Val Pro Gly Gly Val Gln Glu Ile Leu His Met Asp His Asp Ser 195 200 205 Glu Val Ala Phe Leu Lys Pro Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Lys Ile Ala Ile 210 215 220 Glu Met Gly Cys Pro Val Val Pro Val Phe Ala Phe Gly Gln Ser Tyr 225 230 235 240 Val Tyr Lys Trp Trp Arg Pro Gly Gly Lys Leu Ile Val Lys Ile Ala 245 250 255 Arg Ala Ile Lys Phe Ser Pro Ile Ile Phe Trp Gly Lys Leu Gly Thr 260 265 270 Pro Ile Pro Phe Ala Thr Pro Met His Val Ile Val Gly Arg Pro Ile 275 280 285 Glu Val Val Lys Asn Pro Gln Pro Thr Ile Asp Glu Ile Asn Gln Val 290 295 300 His Gly Gln Phe Val Val Ala Met Gln Asp Leu Phe Glu Lys Tyr Lys 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Thr Gly Tyr Pro Asp Leu Gln Leu Arg Val Leu 325 330 21 834 DNA Glycine max 21 atgcagacga aaaggatatt aaagtcattt tccagggtgt tcggtttgct cttggtgttc 60 gtgctcatcc ctgtggacga gaacagcatt tttggtcata aattgtccaa atacatatgc 120 aagcacattt gctcctattt tcccataacg cttcacgtag aagaagcaaa agcctttcgt 180 cctgatcaag cttatgtttt tgggtatgaa ccacactcgg tttttccaat tggcattgtt 240 gcacttggtg acagcactgg cttcatgcct cttgcaaaaa caaaatttct tgctagcagc 300 gccgtattct atataccatt tttgagacac atatggacat ggttaggatt tacgccagtg 360 acaaagcaaa atttcatttc ctcgttggaa gctggttaca gttgcatttt agtacctggt 420 ggagttcgag aaacattttt tatggagcct ggttgtgaga ttgcctttct taagcaaaga 480 agaggatttg tccgcatagc attgcaaatg ggcctacccc ttgttccagt tttctgcttt 540 ggccagacaa aagcctacaa gtggtggaag cctccaggaa ggttaatgca aaatcttgca 600 aggtttttga agataattcc attatttttc tggggtattt atggatctcc tataccattc 660 aaaaatccat tgtatatcgt cgtgggtaga ccaattgagc tagagaaaaa tccagaacca 720 acaatggagc aggttgccaa agtacatagt cagtttgttg aagcacttca agatcttttc 780 gaccgacaca aagctcatgc tggatataca aatctcgagc tgaaaatatt ttga 834 22 277 PRT Glycine max 22 Met Gln Thr Lys Arg Ile Leu Lys Ser Phe Ser Arg Val Phe Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Val Phe Val Leu Ile Pro Val Asp Glu Asn Ser Ile Phe Gly 20 25 30 His Lys Leu Ser Lys Tyr Ile Cys Lys His Ile Cys Ser Tyr Phe Pro 35 40 45 Ile Thr Leu His Val Glu Glu Ala Lys Ala Phe Arg Pro Asp Gln Ala 50 55 60 Tyr Val Phe Gly Tyr Glu Pro His Ser Val Phe Pro Ile Gly Ile Val 65 70 75 80 Ala Leu Gly Asp Ser Thr Gly Phe Met Pro Leu Ala Lys Thr Lys Phe 85 90 95 Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Val Phe Tyr Ile Pro Phe Leu Arg His Ile Trp 100 105 110 Thr Trp Leu Gly Phe Thr Pro Val Thr Lys Gln Asn Phe Ile Ser Ser 115 120 125 Leu Glu Ala Gly Tyr Ser Cys Ile Leu Val Pro Gly Gly Val Arg Glu 130 135 140 Thr Phe Phe Met Glu Pro Gly Cys Glu Ile Ala Phe Leu Lys Gln Arg 145 150 155 160 Arg Gly Phe Val Arg Ile Ala Leu Gln Met Gly Leu Pro Leu Val Pro 165 170 175 Val Phe Cys Phe Gly Gln Thr Lys Ala Tyr Lys Trp Trp Lys Pro Pro 180 185 190 Gly Arg Leu Met Gln Asn Leu Ala Arg Phe Leu Lys Ile Ile Pro Leu 195 200 205 Phe Phe Trp Gly Ile Tyr Gly Ser Pro Ile Pro Phe Lys Asn Pro Leu 210 215 220 Tyr Ile Val Val Gly Arg Pro Ile Glu Leu Glu Lys Asn Pro Glu Pro 225 230 235 240 Thr Met Glu Gln Val Ala Lys Val His Ser Gln Phe Val Glu Ala Leu 245 250 255 Gln Asp Leu Phe Asp Arg His Lys Ala His Ala Gly Tyr Thr Asn Leu 260 265 270 Glu Leu Lys Ile Phe 275 23 999 DNA Triticum aestivum 23 atgggcgcgg ggaatggcct gagcaacggc gccgcggccg cggccgaggc ggcgcccgac 60 gggaccacgg tgttccgggc cacggcctac tcgccgctgc gcaccacgct ggcgctggcg 120 ctctggctgg gggccatcca cttcaacatc ctcctcgtcc tcgcctccct cttcctcctc 180 ccccgccgcg tcgccgccat ggtgctcggc acgcagctct tcttcatgct cgtgcccctc 240 aatgacagga gcaggatggg gcgcaagatc gccagattca taagcaagta cgtggggggg 300 tacttccccg tcactctaca tgtggaggac tacaaggctg ttgaccccaa aagagcttac 360 gtgttcggtt atgaaccgca ttctgttctg cccatcggcc ttggggccct cgtggacctt 420 gttggattca tgccattgcc gaagaccaag gttcttgcaa gcactgcggt gttctacact 480 ccgttcttga ggcagatatg gacgtggttg ggcttggttc ctgcttcaag aaagaacttc 540 tactcctacc ttcgagctgg ttatacctgc atcgtagtgc ctggaggtgt acaggagatg 600 cttcacatgg atcatgattc ggaggttgct tttctgaaat caaggaaagg ttttgttaag 660 atcgctatgg agacaggttc tcctttagtc ccggttttct gcttcggaca gagccttgtg 720 tacaagtggt ggaggccagg tggcaagttg attgtgaaga ttgctagagc aattaaattt 780 actccaatta ttttctttgg gaaatacggg actcccatcc ctttcgcgac accacttcat 840 ctggttgttg gaagaccaat cgaggttcag aaaaatcctc agcctacata tgatgagata 900 aacgaggtac atgaacaatt tgtggttgcg atgcaagaac tattcgaaaa gtacaagaca 960 aaagctggat atgacaaact cgaattgaga gttctatga 999 24 332 PRT Triticum aestivum 24 Met Gly Ala Gly Asn Gly Leu Ser Asn Gly Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Pro Asp Gly Thr Thr Val Phe Arg Ala Thr Ala Tyr Ser Pro 20 25 30 Leu Arg Thr Thr Leu Ala Leu Ala Leu Trp Leu Gly Ala Ile His Phe 35 40 45 Asn Ile Leu Leu Val Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Val 50 55 60 Ala Ala Met Val Leu Gly Thr Gln Leu Phe Phe Met Leu Val Pro Leu 65 70 75 80 Asn Asp Arg Ser Arg Met Gly Arg Lys Ile Ala Arg Phe Ile Ser Lys 85 90 95 Tyr Val Gly Gly Tyr Phe Pro Val Thr Leu His Val Glu Asp Tyr Lys 100 105 110 Ala Val Asp Pro Lys Arg Ala Tyr Val Phe Gly Tyr Glu Pro His Ser 115 120 125 Val Leu Pro Ile Gly Leu Gly Ala Leu Val Asp Leu Val Gly Phe Met 130 135 140 Pro Leu Pro Lys Thr Lys Val Leu Ala Ser Thr Ala Val Phe Tyr Thr 145 150 155 160 Pro Phe Leu Arg Gln Ile Trp Thr Trp Leu Gly Leu Val Pro Ala Ser 165 170 175 Arg Lys Asn Phe Tyr Ser Tyr Leu Arg Ala Gly Tyr Thr Cys Ile Val 180 185 190 Val Pro Gly Gly Val Gln Glu Met Leu His Met Asp His Asp Ser Glu 195 200 205 Val Ala Phe Leu Lys Ser Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Lys Ile Ala Met Glu 210 215 220 Thr Gly Ser Pro Leu Val Pro Val Phe Cys Phe Gly Gln Ser Leu Val 225 230 235 240 Tyr Lys Trp Trp Arg Pro Gly Gly Lys Leu Ile Val Lys Ile Ala Arg 245 250 255 Ala Ile Lys Phe Thr Pro Ile Ile Phe Phe Gly Lys Tyr Gly Thr Pro 260 265 270 Ile Pro Phe Ala Thr Pro Leu His Leu Val Val Gly Arg Pro Ile Glu 275 280 285 Val Gln Lys Asn Pro Gln Pro Thr Tyr Asp Glu Ile Asn Glu Val His 290 295 300 Glu Gln Phe Val Val Ala Met Gln Glu Leu Phe Glu Lys Tyr Lys Thr 305 310 315 320 Lys Ala Gly Tyr Asp Lys Leu Glu Leu Arg Val Leu 325 330 25 1059 DNA Drosophila melanogaster 25 atgaaaatcg agtgggcacc actgcgggtt cctctggaac gccgactgca gatactggtc 60 acggcctttt tcacctccat gctgctgata ctattgtcag tttccttcct tttggtagct 120 ggatcactga tctacggagg tcttttggtg cgtagtctga tggtaactta cttggcctac 180 gtctttgtgc accacaagaa aacccaatcc gttgtggatg gcaatggctg gatgataaca 240 cgcaccaacc ttttgcatcg ccactatcgt gattactttc ccgtggagct ggtgaaaaca 300 gccgaactgc cagctactaa gaactacatc ttggccagct ttccccacgg aattctgggc 360 acaggcattg gcattaacat gggcttggaa atctccaagt ggctggagct attcccccaa 420 gtgcgtccca aactgggcac tctggatcag catttccatg ttccgttcat gcgtgaggtc 480 ctccgctgct ggggtctggt gtcagtgtcc aaagaggcgc tgatccgtat gctcagcaag 540 tcaaatgatc ccaagcacaa ggataatcgg gatggtttca cctccaatgc ggtggccatt 600 ctggttggcg gtgcccagga agccatggac tctcatcctg ggcagtacat tttaaccttg 660 aagaatagga aaggcttcgt gcgaatggcc attagaacgg gctcatcgat tgttccttca 720 ttttcctttg gagaggtgga cattttcgat caggtggcaa atccccccaa ctcgctgctc 780 cgacggtttc aggactttgt caagaagctc accggagtct ctccgctgat tcctgtgggc 840 cgcggattct tcaactacac ctttggcttc ctcccattcc gacgacgcat tgtccaagtt 900 gttggtgctc ccatcgatgt tgttaagaac gagcacccag actcggagta tgtggataaa 960 gtgcatggac aggtcattga gtcgctggag aagttattcg atcagtacaa agacaagtac 1020 ttggagaatt cgaagagtgc cactctagtt gtacactag 1059 26 352 PRT Drosophila melanogaster 26 Met Lys Ile Glu Trp Ala Pro Leu Arg Val Pro Leu Glu Arg Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 Gln Ile Leu Val Thr Ala Phe Phe Thr Ser Met Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu 20 25 30 Ser Val Ser Phe Leu Leu Val Ala Gly Ser Leu Ile Tyr Gly Gly Leu 35 40 45 Leu Val Arg Ser Leu Met Val Thr Tyr Leu Ala Tyr Val Phe Val His 50 55 60 His Lys Lys Thr Gln Ser Val Val Asp Gly Asn Gly Trp Met Ile Thr 65 70 75 80 Arg Thr Asn Leu Leu His Arg His Tyr Arg Asp Tyr Phe Pro Val Glu 85 90 95 Leu Val Lys Thr Ala Glu Leu Pro Ala Thr Lys Asn Tyr Ile Leu Ala 100 105 110 Ser Phe Pro His Gly Ile Leu Gly Thr Gly Ile Gly Ile Asn Met Gly 115 120 125 Leu Glu Ile Ser Lys Trp Leu Glu Leu Phe Pro Gln Val Arg Pro Lys 130 135 140 Leu Gly Thr Leu Asp Gln His Phe His Val Pro Phe Met Arg Glu Val 145 150 155 160 Leu Arg Cys Trp Gly Leu Val Ser Val Ser Lys Glu Ala Leu Ile Arg 165 170 175 Met Leu Ser Lys Ser Asn Asp Pro Lys His Lys Asp Asn Arg Asp Gly 180 185 190 Phe Thr Ser Asn Ala Val Ala Ile Leu Val Gly Gly Ala Gln Glu Ala 195 200 205 Met Asp Ser His Pro Gly Gln Tyr Ile Leu Thr Leu Lys Asn Arg Lys 210 215 220 Gly Phe Val Arg Met Ala Ile Arg Thr Gly Ser Ser Ile Val Pro Ser 225 230 235 240 Phe Ser Phe Gly Glu Val Asp Ile Phe Asp Gln Val Ala Asn Pro Pro 245 250 255 Asn Ser Leu Leu Arg Arg Phe Gln Asp Phe Val Lys Lys Leu Thr Gly 260 265 270 Val Ser Pro Leu Ile Pro Val Gly Arg Gly Phe Phe Asn Tyr Thr Phe 275 280 285 Gly Phe Leu Pro Phe Arg Arg Arg Ile Val Gln Val Val Gly Ala Pro 290 295 300 Ile Asp Val Val Lys Asn Glu His Pro Asp Ser Glu Tyr Val Asp Lys 305 310 315 320 Val His Gly Gln Val Ile Glu Ser Leu Glu Lys Leu Phe Asp Gln Tyr 325 330 335 Lys Asp Lys Tyr Leu Glu Asn Ser Lys Ser Ala Thr Leu Val Val His 340 345 350 27 1005 DNA Homo sapiens 27 atgaaggtag agtttgcacc gctcaacatc cagctggcgc ggcggctgca gacggtggcc 60 gtgctgcagt gggtcctttc ttttcttaca gggccgatgt ccattggaat cactgtgatg 120 ctgatcatac acaactattt gttcctttac atcccttatt tgatgtggct ttactttgac 180 tggcataccc cagagcgagg aggcaggaga tccagctgga tcaaaaattg gactctttgg 240 aaacacttta aggactattt tccaattcat cttatcaaaa ctcaagattt ggatccaagt 300 cacaactata tatttgggtt tcacccccat ggaataatgg cagttggagc ctttgggaat 360 ttttctgtaa attattctga cttcaaggac ctgtttcctg gctttacttc atatcttcac 420 gtgctgccac tttggttctg gtgtcctgtc tttcgagaat atgtgatgag tgttgggctg 480 gtttcagttt ccaagaaaag tgtgtcctac atggtaagca aggagggagg tggaaacatc 540 tctgtcattg tccttggggg tgcaaaagaa tcactggatg ctcatcctgg aaagttcact 600 ctgttcatcc gccagcggaa aggatttgtt aaaattgctt tgacccatgg cgcctctctg 660 gtcccagtgg tttcttttgg tgaaaatgaa ctgtttaaac aaactgacaa ccctgaagga 720 tcatggatta gaactgttca gaataaactg cagaagatca tggggtttgc tttgcccctg 780 tttcatgcca ggggagtttt tcagtacaat tttggcctaa tgacctatag gaaagccatc 840 cacactgttg ttggccgccc gatccctgtt cgtcagactc tgaacccgac ccaggagcag 900 attgaggagt tacatcagac ctatatggag gaacttagga aattgtttga ggaacacaaa 960 ggaaagtatg gcattccaga gcacgagact cttgttttaa aatga 1005 28 334 PRT Homo sapiens 28 Met Lys Val Glu Phe Ala Pro Leu Asn Ile Gln Leu Ala Arg Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 Gln Thr Val Ala Val Leu Gln Trp Val Leu Ser Phe Leu Thr Gly Pro 20 25 30 Met Ser Ile Gly Ile Thr Val Met Leu Ile Ile His Asn Tyr Leu Phe 35 40 45 Leu Tyr Ile Pro Tyr Leu Met Trp Leu Tyr Phe Asp Trp His Thr Pro 50 55 60 Glu Arg Gly Gly Arg Arg Ser Ser Trp Ile Lys Asn Trp Thr Leu Trp 65 70 75 80 Lys His Phe Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Ile His Leu Ile Lys Thr Gln Asp 85 90 95 Leu Asp Pro Ser His Asn Tyr Ile Phe Gly Phe His Pro His Gly Ile 100 105 110 Met Ala Val Gly Ala Phe Gly Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Tyr Ser Asp Phe 115 120 125 Lys Asp Leu Phe Pro Gly Phe Thr Ser Tyr Leu His Val Leu Pro Leu 130 135 140 Trp Phe Trp Cys Pro Val Phe Arg Glu Tyr Val Met Ser Val Gly Leu 145 150 155 160 Val Ser Val Ser Lys Lys Ser Val Ser Tyr Met Val Ser Lys Glu Gly 165 170 175 Gly Gly Asn Ile Ser Val Ile Val Leu Gly Gly Ala Lys Glu Ser Leu 180 185 190 Asp Ala His Pro Gly Lys Phe Thr Leu Phe Ile Arg Gln Arg Lys Gly 195 200 205 Phe Val Lys Ile Ala Leu Thr His Gly Ala Ser Leu Val Pro Val Val 210 215 220 Ser Phe Gly Glu Asn Glu Leu Phe Lys Gln Thr Asp Asn Pro Glu Gly 225 230 235 240 Ser Trp Ile Arg Thr Val Gln Asn Lys Leu Gln Lys Ile Met Gly Phe 245 250 255 Ala Leu Pro Leu Phe His Ala Arg Gly Val Phe Gln Tyr Asn Phe Gly 260 265 270 Leu Met Thr Tyr Arg Lys Ala Ile His Thr Val Val Gly Arg Pro Ile 275 280 285 Pro Val Arg Gln Thr Leu Asn Pro Thr Gln Glu Gln Ile Glu Glu Leu 290 295 300 His Gln Thr Tyr Met Glu Glu Leu Arg Lys Leu Phe Glu Glu His Lys 305 310 315 320 Gly Lys Tyr Gly Ile Pro Glu His Glu Thr Leu Val Leu Lys 325 330 29 346 PRT Schizosaccharomyces pombe MISC_FEATURE (1)..(346) any set containing n 29 Met Ser Glu Glu Thr Ser Ile Pro Gly Ile Ile Ala Ser Thr Pro Pro 1 5 10 15 Ile Ser Lys Asp Ser Arg Arg Asn Val Ser His Trp Leu Gln Ala Leu 20 25 30 Ala Val Phe Leu His Ser Val Ser Leu Thr Leu Thr Ala Ser Trp Tyr 35 40 45 Thr Val Leu Trp Ala Phe Leu Pro Phe Trp Pro Val Ser Glu His Leu 50 55 60 Phe Xaa Cys Tyr Asn Ile Asn Asp Phe Xaa Lys Xaa Asn Phe Ile Cys 65 70 75 80 Lys Met Tyr Arg Asp Ser Asn Cys Xaa Lys Lys Ala Leu Gly Ile Ser 85 90 95 Cys Leu Phe Asp Asp Thr Lys Tyr Phe Ser Val Phe Gly Leu Gln Lys 100 105 110 Xaa Ser Val Ser Leu Pro Phe Leu Lys Cys Xaa Lys Leu Ile His Leu 115 120 125 Phe Phe Phe Thr Val His Phe Thr Asn Pro Ser Phe Leu Xaa Phe Leu 130 135 140 Ile Val Tyr Leu Ile Trp Leu Ile Tyr Asp Asp Gly Phe Val Thr Gly 145 150 155 160 Lys Asp Arg Gln Lys Arg Trp Leu Arg Asn Ala Pro Pro Tyr Arg Trp 165 170 175 Phe Cys His Tyr Phe Pro Ile Arg Leu His Lys Thr Thr Glu Leu Asp 180 185 190 Ser Glu Lys Asn Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile Ser 195 200 205 Leu Gly Ala Phe Gly Gly Phe Ala Ser Glu Gly Met Leu Xaa Trp Arg 210 215 220 Thr Arg Lys Leu Glu Ala Thr Leu His Gln Cys Phe Pro Phe Xaa Phe 225 230 235 240 His Thr Xaa Phe Ser Tyr Leu Ile Ser Asn Leu Met Leu Leu Gly Ala 245 250 255 Asp Phe Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Gly Ile Asn Val Ser Val Leu Thr Leu 260 265 270 Asn Ser Asn Phe Tyr Val Pro Val Tyr Arg Asp Tyr Leu Met Ala Leu 275 280 285 Asn Ile Asn Ser Val Ser Lys Lys Ser Cys Val Ser Ile Leu Ser Arg 290 295 300 Lys Pro Gly Asp Ser Val Leu Ile Val Ile Gly Gly Ala Gln Glu Ser 305 310 315 320 Leu Leu Ser Arg Pro Gly Gln Asn Asn Leu Val Leu Lys Lys Arg Phe 325 330 335 Gly Phe Val Lys Leu Ala Phe Leu Thr Gly 340 345 30 228 PRT Schizosaccharomyces pombe 30 Met Ser Glu Glu Thr Ser Ile Pro Gly Ile Ile Ala Ser Thr Pro Pro 1 5 10 15 Ile Ser Lys Asp Ser Arg Arg Asn Val Ser His Trp Leu Gln Ala Leu 20 25 30 Ala Val Phe Leu His Ser Val Ser Leu Thr Leu Thr Ala Ser Trp Tyr 35 40 45 Thr Val Leu Trp Ala Phe Leu Pro Phe Trp Pro Phe Leu Ile Val Tyr 50 55 60 Leu Ile Trp Leu Ile Tyr Asp Asp Gly Phe Val Thr Gly Lys Asp Arg 65 70 75 80 Gln Lys Arg Trp Leu Arg Asn Ala Pro Pro Tyr Arg Trp Phe Cys His 85 90 95 Tyr Phe Pro Ile Arg Leu His Lys Thr Thr Glu Leu Asp Ser Glu Lys 100 105 110 Asn Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile Ser Leu Gly Ala 115 120 125 Phe Gly Gly Phe Ala Ser Glu Gly Ala Asp Phe Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro 130 135 140 Gly Ile Asn Val Ser Val Leu Thr Leu Asn Ser Asn Phe Tyr Val Pro 145 150 155 160 Val Tyr Arg Asp Tyr Leu Met Ala Leu Asn Ile Asn Ser Val Ser Lys 165 170 175 Lys Ser Cys Val Ser Ile Leu Ser Arg Lys Pro Gly Asp Ser Val Leu 180 185 190 Ile Val Ile Gly Gly Ala Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Ser Arg Pro Gly Gln 195 200 205 Asn Asn Leu Val Leu Lys Lys Arg Phe Gly Phe Val Lys Leu Ala Phe 210 215 220 Leu Thr Gly Ser 225 31 577 PRT Candida albicans 31 Met Thr Asp Thr Ser Asp Leu Lys Pro Glu His Thr Glu Lys Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Gly Leu Ser Thr Ser Lys Glu Val Pro Glu Ser Thr Leu Thr Gln Arg 20 25 30 Lys Gln Pro Ser Thr Pro Ala Thr Gln Thr Ser Lys Arg Pro Thr Pro 35 40 45 Ala Lys Lys Lys Arg Ala Phe Ile Asn Val Ala Pro Leu Asn Thr Pro 50 55 60 Leu Ser His Arg Leu Glu Thr Leu Gly Val Val Trp His Cys Ile Ser 65 70 75 80 Ile Pro Phe Phe Ile Cys Leu Phe Phe Phe Met Ile Ser Leu Gly Leu 85 90 95 Phe Gly Trp Ile Val Ile Val Leu Pro Tyr Phe Ile Trp Trp Tyr Gly 100 105 110 Phe Asp Leu His Thr Pro Thr Asn Gly Lys Val Ala Tyr Arg Tyr Arg 115 120 125 Asn Ser Met Lys Asn Phe Ile Ile Trp Asp Trp Phe Val Arg Tyr Phe 130 135 140 Pro Ile Lys Val Tyr Lys Ser Val Glu Leu Glu Pro Thr Phe Lys Glu 145 150 155 160 Val Leu Val Glu Glu Thr Glu Ser Ser Glu Asp Asp Asp Glu Gln Asp 165 170 175 Leu Val Ser Glu Arg Ser Arg Thr Leu Val Asp Lys Val Phe Lys Phe 180 185 190 Phe Gly Leu Lys Lys Arg Leu Asn Asp Thr Ser Leu Gly Lys Ser Glu 195 200 205 Thr Tyr Lys Thr Val Ser Thr Gly Pro Arg Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His 210 215 220 Pro His Gly Val Ile Ser Met Gly Gly Val Gly Leu Phe Ala Thr Asn 225 230 235 240 Ser Leu Arg Asn Glu Pro Tyr Thr Pro Phe Leu Lys Phe Leu Lys Pro 245 250 255 Phe Phe His Asp Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu Arg Leu Phe Pro Gly Leu Gly 260 265 270 Asn Ile Phe Leu Leu Thr Ile Thr Thr Gln Phe Ala Ile Pro Phe Tyr 275 280 285 Arg Asp Tyr Leu Met Gly Leu Gly Val Thr Ser Ala Ser Ala Lys Asn 290 295 300 Ile Arg Ser Leu Ile Ser Asn Gly Asp Asn Ser Val Cys Ile Val Val 305 310 315 320 Gly Gly Ala Glu Glu Ser Leu Leu Asn Asn Met Val Ala Lys His Ala 325 330 335 Arg Val Gly Tyr Gly Tyr Lys Glu Asn Gln Asp Ile Asn Gly Ser Asp 340 345 350 Ala Glu Asp Asp Gln Pro Glu Glu Glu Glu Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln 355 360 365 Pro Asn Gly Ser Val Glu Val Asp Lys Lys Thr Thr Lys Glu Val Gly 370 375 380 Glu Lys Thr Ser Ser Gln Pro Ser Lys Arg Glu Val Lys Leu Ile Leu 385 390 395 400 Asn Lys Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Lys Leu Ala Ile Glu Leu Gly Asn Val 405 410 415 Ala Leu Val Pro Thr Phe Ala Phe Gly Glu Ala Asp Val Tyr Arg Leu 420 425 430 Val Gln Pro Ser Pro Thr Ser Met Met Tyr Lys Phe Gln Lys Trp Met 435 440 445 Lys Gly Ile Phe Leu Phe Thr Ile Pro Leu Phe Ser Ala Arg Gly Val 450 455 460 Phe Ile Tyr Asp Tyr Gly Leu Leu Pro Phe Arg Asn Pro Ile Asn Ile 465 470 475 480 Cys Val Gly Lys Pro Ile Tyr Ile Pro Ala Gly Ala Leu Gln Glu Tyr 485 490 495 Lys Gln Gln His Pro Glu Glu Phe Thr Glu Glu Glu Thr Lys Pro Pro 500 505 510 Met Lys Lys Ser Gly Ser Phe Thr Asp Ile Phe Lys Met Asn Gly Glu 515 520 525 Thr Pro Lys Val Ser Thr Ile Lys Thr Lys Ile Pro Pro Ala Leu Leu 530 535 540 Asp Lys Tyr His Lys Leu Tyr Val Asp Glu Leu Arg Asn Val Tyr Glu 545 550 555 560 Glu Asn Lys His Lys Phe Gly Tyr Gly Asp Val Glu Phe Ser Ile Val 565 570 575 Glu 32 314 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 32 Met Gly Gly Ser Arg Glu Phe Arg Ala Glu Glu His Ser Asn Gln Phe 1 5 10 15 His Ser Ile Ile Ala Met Ala Ile Trp Leu Gly Ala Ile His Phe Asn 20 25 30 Val Ala Leu Val Leu Cys Ser Leu Ile Phe Leu Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser 35 40 45 Leu Met Val Leu Gly Leu Leu Ser Leu Phe Ile Phe Ile Pro Ile Asp 50 55 60 His Arg Ser Lys Tyr Gly Arg Lys Leu Ala Arg Tyr Ile Cys Lys His 65 70 75 80 Ala Cys Asn Tyr Phe Pro Val Ser Leu Tyr Val Glu Asp Tyr Glu Ala 85 90 95 Phe Gln Pro Asn Arg Ala Tyr Val Phe Gly Tyr Glu Pro His Ser Val 100 105 110 Leu Pro Ile Gly Val Val Ala Leu Cys Asp Leu Thr Gly Phe Met Pro 115 120 125 Ile Pro Asn Ile Lys Val Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Ile Phe Tyr Thr Pro 130 135 140 Phe Leu Arg His Ile Trp Thr Trp Leu Gly Leu Thr Ala Ala Ser Arg 145 150 155 160 Lys Asn Phe Thr Ser Leu Leu Asp Ser Gly Tyr Ser Cys Val Leu Val 165 170 175 Pro Gly Gly Val Gln Glu Thr Phe His Met Gln His Asp Ala Glu Asn 180 185 190 Val Phe Leu Ser Arg Arg Arg Gly Phe Val Arg Ile Ala Met Glu Gln 195 200 205 Gly Ser Pro Leu Val Pro Val Phe Cys Phe Gly Gln Ala Arg Val Tyr 210 215 220 Lys Trp Trp Lys Pro Asp Cys Asp Leu Tyr Leu Lys Leu Ser Arg Ala 225 230 235 240 Ile Arg Phe Thr Pro Ile Cys Phe Trp Gly Val Phe Gly Ser Pro Leu 245 250 255 Pro Cys Arg Gln Pro Met His Val Val Val Gly Lys Pro Ile Glu Val 260 265 270 Thr Lys Thr Leu Glu Pro Thr Asp Glu Glu Ile Ala Lys Phe His Gly 275 280 285 Gln Tyr Val Glu Ala Leu Arg Asp Leu Phe Glu Arg His Lys Ser Arg 290 295 300 Val Gly Tyr Asp Leu Glu Leu Lys Ile Leu 305 310 33 14 PRT Artificial MISC_FEATURE (1)..(12) Xaa is any amino acid 33 Ala Tyr Val Phe Gly Tyr Glu Pro His Ser Val Xaa Pro Ile 1 5 10 34 7 PRT Artificial peptide 34 Phe Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Tyr Arg 1 5 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide that is at least about 50% identical to one selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and
 24. 2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 14, 18, 20, 22, and
 24. 3. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75% identical to one selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, and
 23. 4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 3, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, and
 23. 5. A DNA construct comprising an expression cassette comprising a heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 or claim
 3. 6. The DNA construct of claim 5, further comprising a second expression cassette wherein said second expression cassette comprises a second heterologous promoter that functions in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide for a diacylglyderol acyltransferase.
 7. A plant or seed comprising the DNA construct of claim
 5. 8. The plant or seed of claim 7, wherein the plant or seed is selected from the group consisting of maize, soybean, canola, oil seed rape, cotton, sesame, flax, peanut, sunflower, safflower, olive, and oil palm.
 9. The plant or seed of claim 7, wherein the plant or seed is processed.
 10. The plant or seed of claim 9, wherein the plant or seed is used to produce a product selected from the group consisting of feed, meal, oil, and protein.
 11. A plant or seed comprising the DNA construct of claim
 6. 12. The plant or seed of claim 11, wherein the plant or seed is selected from the group consisting of maize, soybean, canola, oil seed rape, cotton, sesame, flax, peanut, sunflower, safflower, olive, and oil palm.
 13. The plant or seed of claim 11, wherein the plant or seed is processed.
 14. The plant or seed of claim 13, wherein the plant or seed is used to produce a product selected from the group consisting of feed, meal, oil, and protein.
 15. A method of producing a plant having comprising the steps of: (A) transforming a plant cell with a DNA construct of claim 5 or claim 6; and, (B) regenerating said plant cell into a fertile plant, wherein the fertile plant has enhanced oil relative to seed from a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking the DNA construct.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said plant provides seed having an increased oil yield relative to seed from a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking the DNA construct.
 17. An isolated polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide having at least one amino acid motif selected from the group consisting of: AYVFGYEPHSVXPI (SEQ ID: 33) and FXXPXYR (SEQ ID NO: 34).
 18. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 17, wherein the polypeptide has diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. 